Graceful Horizon and trainer/driver Nick Roland avoided an early front-end battle, stalking from the back of the compact field of Open mares at Desert Park before swooping the group to pull off the 11-1 upset in the Monday, Nov. 11 feature.
There were just four starters in this week's $17,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace, but it was an action-packed race right from the get-go as a three-way battle for the lead ensued off the gate between the inside trio. Taking back from the outside post, longshot Graceful Horizon watched the early tussle as insider Fancy Fanny (Blake Piwniuk) and Vintage Lass (Brandon Campbell) flanked 4-5 favourite Grey Sea (Kelly Hoerdt), who eventually conceded for the three-hole in the first turn. With a four-race win streak on the line, Vintage Lass pressed on and cleared Fancy Fanny after a :26.4 sprint to the quarter in front of the grandstand then managed to steal a breather to the half in :56.3.
As the mares headed down the backstretch the final time, Grey Sea surged first-over with Graceful Horizon following the cover. Vintage Lass hit three-quarters in 1:25.3 and was urged on into the stretch as the outside mares were closing in. Grey Sea and Graceful Horizon rallied by down the lane with the longest shot on the board besting the favourite by 1-1/4 length in 1:56 flat over the 'good' track. Vintage Lass settled for third.
Graceful Horizon paid $24.30 for the upset. The win was her first in five starts at the Desert Park meet and she is now six-for-32 on the season for Roland and Minnesota-based owner Set The Pace Racing.
A former Alberta Sires Stakes champion, the eight-year-old Vertical Horizon-Gracie Montana mare now boasts 48 career victories and nearly $550,000 in earnings.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Desert Park.
(Standardbred Canada)