P L Fighter, driven by Chris Christoforou, got up in the final strides to upset heavily-favoured Autumn Gottem in the $60,000 Autumn Stakes final on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
The three-year-old pacing gelding drew into the final off the also eligible list when St Lads Zoom Zoom was scratched.
P L Fighter, who was sent off at odds of 16-1, got away eighth and followed behind fractions of :25.4, put up by Winbak Carl (Anthony MacDonald), and :55.4 and 1:23.2, clocked by elimination winner Autumn Gottem (Doug McNair).
At the three-quarter pole, P L Fighter was still back in eighth, 10 and a half lengths off the lead. The gelding then unleashed a :26.3 final frame to steal the glory, winning by one length in a new mark of 1:52. The 1-5 favourite, Autumn Gottem, stayed for second and Pass The Deuce (Jody Jamieson) got up for third.
“He’s a horse that has a lot of quick step, but only for a piece,” said trainer Jeffrey Brooks from the winner’s circle. “Sometimes if it’s used a little too early, it kind of gets to him at the end, but tonight it was timed perfectly by Chris. It was a great win.”
The brown son of Jeremes Jet-Go Wilma Go, who was unraced as a two-year-old, has a lifetime record of 4-4-2 from 23 starts and career earnings of $77,000 for owner/breeder Prince Lee Acres of Uxbridge, Ont.
P L Fighter returned $35.20 to win.
This division of the Autumn is for Ontario-sired sophomore colts and gelding pacers, who are non-winners of $50,000 lifetime or $30,000 in 2012 as of October 31.
Live standardbred racing returns to the Toronto oval Monday night with a 7:10 p.m. first-race post time. On the 11-race program, three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will contest their respective $60,000 Autumn Stakes final.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
(WEG)