Woodside Gabe rallied from the backfield to repeat in the $11,806 Open Handicap Trot at Vernon Downs on Friday, Nov. 1.
Starting from post seven, favourite Woodside Gabe and four-time Friday winner Leon Bailey landed at the back of the field with just the early breaker beat while Sevenshotsobourbon (Tom Merton) left to their outside and was first to the quarter in :28.3. After a second-quarter breather to the half in :58.4, Sevenshotsobourbon raced on to three-quarters in 1:27.4 with Woodside Gabe rushing up three-wide heading around the final turn. As the trotters reached the stretch, Woodside Gabe took control and held off late charges by Free Willy Hanover (Chris Long) and Discus Hanover (Ron Harp) to win in 1:57 by a quarter of a length, with Sevenshotsobourbon ending up fourth.
Sent postward as the odds-on favourite after his 1:53.4 career-best score in the Open last Friday, Woodside Gabe paid $4.50 to win.
Amanda Bailey trains Woodside Gabe, a four-year-old gelding by Dover Dan, for owners Joe Facin Jr. and David Faile. Woodside Gabe has won a half a dozen times this season from 26 starts, including back-to-back Open wins at Vernon on another occasion this year in the summer.
Live harness racing resumes at Vernon Downs on Saturday, Nov. 2 starting at 3:05 p.m.
(With files from Vernon Downs; photo of Woodside Gabe from a previous win)