Sparky Mark converted off a pocket trip to defeat favourite Camaes Fellow in the featured $34,000 Preferred Pace on a snowy Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
Camaes Fellow (Billy Davis Jr.), the 3-5 favourite, fired off the gate from post two over insider Sparky Mark (Anthony MacDonald) and led the field of six through fractions of :26.4, :56 and 1:24.4. As the field reached the third quarter mark, Sparky Mark edged off the pylons ready for a sprint to the wire. He collared the pacesetter down the stretch and drew clear for the 1:52 triumph. Camaes Fellow settled for second one length behind with Franceschetti (Mike Horner) coming on for third.
Sparky Mark paid $21.10 for the 9-1 upset. The win was his second in a row and seventh from 31 seasonal starts.
Ron Adams trains the six-year-old son of Astreos for owners David Kryway of Amherstburg, Ont., Vip Internet Stable LLC of Piscataway, New Jersey, and Richard Lombardo of Solon, Ohio.
Lifetime, the classy campaigner has compiled a resume reading 34-17-7 in 94 starts while banking $767,090 in purses.
One race later, millionaire pacer Santanna Blue Chip (Billy Davis Jr.) earned his first victory since returning to the races after a stallion career in Ontario and Ohio.
The eight-year-old son of Art Major rallied wide from third over into the stretch and tracked down 6-5 favourite Kindly Poet (Sylvain Filion) for the 1:53 half-length score, triggering an $18.90 win payoff. The Ladies Man (Mike Saftic) and Lennon Blue Chip (Jonathan Drury) came on for second and third. The race fractions were :26.2, :56 and 1:24.4.
Trainer Jeff Gillis leases the former Breeders Crown champion, who was making his third start of the year. Prior to 2013, he last raced as a three-year-old in 2008 and last won a division of the Simcoe Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 6 of that year for trainer Carl Jamieson.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.