With Trevor Henry catch-driving, Nickle Bag pulled off an 18-1 shocker as he claimed his first Preferred victory on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit on Saturday night.
The popular stakes competitor Thinking Out Loud was the 8-5 favourite in Woodbine Racetrack's featured $34,000 Preferred Pace and driver Randy Waples fired him across the track from the outside post seven to establish the lead into the first turn.
The millionaire pacer led the way through fractions of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:22.2 before Apprentice Hanover (Jody Jamieson) advanced from third up alongside him down the stretch.
However, Nickle Bag, who had moved underway from sixth down the backside, came rushing by in the lane for the one and a half length victory in 1:51.1.
"Nickle Bag and Henry blow it up here in the eighth race!" called the evening's track announcer Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle at the finish during his first Woodbine gig. Nickle Bag returned $38 to win as the second longest shot on the board.
Early trailer Dovuto Hanover (Rick Zeron) also closed well off the winner's cover for second-place honours while Apprentice Hanover edged out Thinking Out Loud for third. Fresh off a victory last weekend, Camaes Fellow (James MacDonald) earned the final paycheque in fifth off a pocket trip.
Nickle Bag is Linda Loyens of Denfield, Ont. and Harry Loyens of Ilderton, Ont. Shawn Robinson trains the four-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding, who improved his seasonal record to 9-9-6 in 42 starts and pushed him annual income to $172,820.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.