The first leg of the Valedictory Series produced a pair of upset winners as Dreamfair Mesa and Dragon Strikes won their respective assignments.
Dreamfair Mesa went down the road in his $17,000 division for the tandem of driver Phil Hudon and trainer Pat Fletcher.
The three-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Dreamfair Zenyatta fired to the front from Post 6 and never looked back. He front-stepped through fractions of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24 before using a :28.1 closing panel to seal the deal in 1:52.1. He was three lengths better than race favourite Awesomeness. Third prize went to Lyons Sands.
Sent off at odds of 7-1, the colt improved his 2016 record to 4-2-2 from 27 starts for owner/breeder John Lamers of Ingersoll, Ont. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his lifetime earnings to $57,269.
Dragon Strikes rallied from out of the clouds to win the second division in 1:52 in his debut for trainer Rod Boyd.
Mike Saftic landed eighth off the gate with the three-year-old son of Art Official-Dragon Flier K, who watched Breaktime Hanover and race favourite Think On It take turns on the lead through panels of :27.1, :56 and 1:23.4. Sitting fifth as the field headed into the closing quarter of the contest, Dragon Strikes revved up his engine and fired home in :27.1 to rally for the head decision over Artful Bliss in 1:52. Think On It faded to finish third.
Overlooked by many at odds of 19-1, Dragon Strikes clicked for the 11th time this season for owner/breeder Robert Key of Leechburg, PA. The 13-time winner has banked $67,913 to date.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.