Let's not bemoan that it's over, let's enjoy that it happened. The 'it' here being the win streak for the top dash winning Standardbred of 2024, Hugh Heff.
All good things must come to an end, and the end to Hugh Heff's 10-race win streak came on Saturday, Nov. 2 courtesy Eastcoast Invader in the second leg of the Governor's Cup Series at Nova Scotia's Northside Downs.
Sent off as the 4/5 choice in Saturday's second division, Hugh Heff got away midpack early for driver Randy Getto as Thunder Alley (Gerard Kennedy) set the early speed. After a :29 opening quarter, Getto angled Hugh Heff to start his familar overland journey. After a :58.3 half and 1:28.1 third panel, Hugh Heff was still parked and driving while Heave Away (Ryan Campbell) angled into the three path and Eastcoast Invader started to look four wide for Monica Sutherland.
As Hugh Heff overtook Thunder Alley just before the stretch, Eastcoast Invader found his best stride once the field straightened away. As the wire neared, Hugh Heff fought valiantly as Eastcoast Invader continued to close. In the final strides Eastcoast Invader snatched victory away from Hugh Heff, winning by a quarter of a length in a time of 1:57.4. Heave Away rounded out the top trio.
Trained and driven by Monica Sutherland, Eastcoast Invader (Rollwithitharry - Manhattan Delight) is a seven-year-old gelding owned by breeder Todd Sutherland in partnership with daughter Monica. The veteran gelding and only two-time winner in this series moved his seasonal record to 6-5-4 in 24 starts, winning his 24th career race while lifting his earnings to $40,890. As the 9-2 third choice, he paid $11.30 to win.
Shir Gain delivered as the 3/4 choice in the first $1,700 Governor's Cup split, pouncing on a three-station front-end tussle between Q Ts Charlie (Jeremy Baker) and Kraken Seelster (Ardon Mofford). After those two traded blows through fractions of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:28.4, Shir Gain received his cue from driver Rodney Gillis to hit the three path and clear those rivals. He did down the lane for the 1:58.2 tally by nearly two lengths. Q Ts Charlie was next best with Kraken Seelster a solid but well-beaten third.
Owned by 2024's leading trainer at Inverness Raceway, Donald Beaton, six-year-old Shir Gain (Blue Burner-Shirley Hall) has not finished worse than third (5-1-3) in his last nine starts. The horse that could be dubbed the 'West Coast Invader' after spending his the majority of his career racing at tracks in Alberta and British Columbia, Shir Gain sports nine wins overall this year from 30 seasonal starts with more than $77,000 in purses. He returned $3.50 to win.
The two legs of the Governor's Cup Series determined the fields for the $5,000 final and $3,000 Consolation set for the final card of 2024 at the Cape Breton half-miler. Those fields, in alphabetical order, are as follows:
$5,000 Governor's Cup Final:
- Eastcoast Invader
- Hugh Heff
- Kraken Seelster
- Qts Charlie
- Shir Gain
$3,000 Governor's Cup Consolation:
- Afair Somewhere
- Dontblvmejustwatch
- Heave Away
- Runaway Mystery
- Thunder Alley
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)