Bettors Burn and Trafalgar were heavily favoured to win their respective divisions of the Autumn Series on Monday evening at The Raceway at Western Fair District, but they both came up short and had to settle for runner-up performances.
Blackcreek Rosebud pulled off a 22-1 stunner in the $8,500 opening division for the team of driver Travis Henry and trainer Kris Haskell.
The three-year-old daughter of Sir Luck-Greystone Fantasy enjoyed a two-hole trip behind the 3-5 favourite, Bettors Burn, who carved out fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:29. Henry found clearance in the lane for Blackcreek Rosebud, and the filly stepped home in :30.3 to win by a half-length margin over Bettors Burn in 1:59.4. Butterfly Kisses took home the show dough.
Haskell shares ownership on the sophomore with Derek Marks, Tanner Glanville and Kenneth Colquhoun. The group watched the pacer find her way to victory lane for the fourth time in her career. Unraced as a rookie, Blackcreek Rosebud improved this year’s record to 4-2-2 from 14 starts with the win. She’s banked more than $18,000 to date.
Sirius Star picked off race favourite Trafalgar in the late stages of the second division, but her upset was a mild one.
Trafalgar knifed out panels of :28.3, 1:00 and 1:28.4, but after holding a four-length lead at the head of the lane she was out-kicked home by the rallying Sirius Star who made a three-wide move at the three-quarter pole and then kicked home in :30 to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Trafalgar was next best, with Town Delinquent took home the show dough.
Mike Horner guided the three-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Siri Hanover to the victory for trainer Mark Horner, who co-owns the filly with Doug Wilson of Dorchester, Ont. It was the second straight win in the series for the five-time winner who upped her lifetime earnings to $22,322 with the win.
Blue Moose pulled off an upset of his own going the distance of 1-1/16 miles in the $9,400 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers.
Starting from Post 7, the gelding got away sixth for driver Robert Shepherd, and he held that position through the first half. He popped to the outside in the third quarter, and after advancing from third over he gradually made his way closer to the leaders in the late stages of the mile. He continued to rally and eventually got up to win by a half-length margin over race favourite Buckeroo. Bettors Western was third. The affair was clocked in 2:05.
Isabelle Darveau trains the four-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Whig Party for Shepherd. The victory was the 11th of the season and the 18th to date for the career winner of over $100,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.