Sparky Mark earned his second consecutive sub-1:50 win in Preferred company at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday night
.
The four-year-old son of Astreos-Luckbealadytonite has made a solid comeback climbing the classes since a six and a half month long layoff earlier this year, and lowered his lifetime mark taken last week in the Preferred 2 by one-fifth of a second to 1:49.1 in tonight's $38,000 Preferred Pace.
Sparky Mark and driver Sylvan Filion blasted off the gate from the outside six-post and sprinted to the opening quarter in :26.2 before facing his first challenger. Millionaire pacer Aracache Hanover and Doug McNair pulled the pocket and pushed a head in front of Sparky Mark at the :54.4 half. Sparky Mark fought back and regained control by the next marker in 1:21.4. He then drew away to win by over two lengths with a :27.2 final frame. The popular Aracache Hanover held off Major Hottie and Keith Oliver for second place honours.
Sparky Mark paid $7.60 to win as the 5-2 second choice. The bay, trained by Mark Austin for owner-breeder Leo Thibodeau of Windsor, Ont., recorded his eighth win in 12 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings to $121,250.
Earlier on the card, North America Cup champion Up The Credit held off Camaes Fellow and Doug McNair by a head in 1:50.3 in a $30,000 conditioned pace for three-year-olds. The Carl Jamieson trainee was driven to victory by Keith Oliver, who picked up the drive for regular reinsman Jody Jamieson who was racing in Indiana tonight. Mach Of Ballykeel and Filion finished third. The millionaire son of Western Terror-Cantbuymehappines is owned by Carl Jamieson, Thomas Kyron of Toronto, Brian Paquet of Quebec City, and Joanne Morrison of Beeton, Ont.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.