Driver Ryan Campbell worked out a perfect pocket trip in rein to Eastcoast Invader to win the $5,000 final of the Governor's Cup Series during Northside Downs' weekend card, which was pushed to Sunday (Nov. 13) due to inclement weather.
Sent off as the 7-5 favourite from post one, the mare Kiss Me Im Irish (Mark Pezzarello) outsprinted the inside leavers to lead the field of Cape Breton Open pacers with Campbell securing a pocket trip for 3-2 second choice Eastcoast Invader while A Better Man (Gerard Kennry) was left parked out through opening fractions of :28.2 and :57.3.
Down the backstretch, A Better Man began to tire from his overland journey while Gentry Seelster (Lawrence Snow), also parked from the start near the rear of the field, was forced to go three-wide if he had any chance of a series sweep but was unable to progress after the tough outside start.
Meanwhile, Campbell pulled Eastcoast Invader from the pocket to overtake Kiss Me Im Irish past three-quarters in 1:28.2 and they drew two lengths clear in the final turn with Escape Mystery (Harold LeBlanc) launching out of the three-hole and closing late to make it within a diminishing length of the 1:58.1 winner at the wire. Kiss Me Im Irish held on for third over Revenant (Shawn Lynk).
Eastcoast Invader, who had finished fourth and third in the opening legs of the series, paid $5.10 to win.
Owned by trainer Monica Sutherland and breeder Todd Sutherland of Port Hood, N.S., the five-year-old Rollwithitharry-Manhattan Delight gelding picked up his fourth win of the season from 22 starts and his 14th victory lifetime, pushing his earnings over $21,000.
In the $3,000 series consolation, 3-5 favourite Betterthanbutter ($3.20) and driver Zachary Mullins toyed with the competition early before leaving them 15-1/4 lengths in arrears, winning in 1:57.4. The four-year-old Westardho Hanover gelding, who just missed by a head in the opening leg of the series, now has seven wins from 25 starts this year for trainer Alex MacQuarrie and owner Walter Deagle of Inverness, N.S. Southwind Ricardo (Greg Sparling) won the race for place over Mando Fun (Ryan Campbell).
This week's $1,400 Winners Over went to the 3-4 inside choice, Rockemsockem Scott ($3.50), who led at every call en route to a 1:58.4 victory for driver/owner Gerard Kennedy and trainer Donald Kennedy. The five-year-old Rockin Amadeus gelding has won two of his last three races and one-third of his 21 seasonal starts. Q Ts Charlie (Shawn Lynk) finished second in the field that was scratched down to four. Docs Ronhenry (Rodney Gillis) was third over last week's winner Red Rum She Wrote (Angus Bates), who faded in the stretch after challenging through the middle half.
The live harness racing season at Northside Downs will conclude next Saturday, Nov. 19 with a 12 p.m. program as the additional race date was announced by officials earlier this week.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Northside Downs.