The Harvest Claiming Series kicked off on Saturday night at Sudbury Downs a pair of longshots managed to make their connections proud
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In the first of two $7,500 divisions for $8,500 claiming pacers, 7-1 fifth choice Magnum Star and Pascal Berube followed the cover of Odds On Upshot (Justin Turcotte) until the third quarter where he tipped three-wide and used a :29.4 final quarter to prevail by two lengths in 1:58.3. Odds On Upshot finished second and Owhatabeachbum (David Dowling) came on for third.
The five-year-old son of Astreos-Magnum Momma earned his 10th win of the season in 39 starts and lifted his earnings to $41,872. Magnum Star recently moved into the barn of Clayton Roderick Miller for owner Vincent Agostino of Laval, Que. The winner of 16 races lifetime has banked $112,375.
Vlad Hanover, also a 7-1 shot, and driver Mario Rivest sat seventh for most of the mile and then unleashed a :28.3 final quarter to win in 1:58.4 by a head over Mud Bog (Jay Polifroni). Allamerican Laser (Paul MacLean) rounded out the top three.
Trained by Philippe Belanger for owners Rick Braun of Gurnee, Illinois and Kenneth Desjardins of Hanmer, Ont., the five-year-old son of Rustler Hanover-Varbo won for the eighth time in 40 starts this year and lifted her earnings to $50,432. Vlad Hanover has won 21 times over the course of his career good for $111,779.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.