Sent postward as the longest shot on the board, Rubis Prescott was a 12-1 surprise winner as she closed late into the win photo of Friday night's $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack.
D Gs Pesquero hustled off the gate from the outermost post six to establish the early lead into a :27.3 opening quarter while Bullet Point and Rubis Prescott lined up behind her. However, heavy 1-2 favourite Marquise De Sarah made her move down the backstretch and swept from fourth to first, clearing as they rolled past the :57 half-mile mark.
Bullet Point then advanced first up to take on Marquise De Sarah as they raced to three-quarters in 1:25.3. With Putmeintogo gapping cover from the backfield, D Gs Pesquero was able to tip out behind Bullet Point and angled wide for the stretch drive.
Spread three across the track, Marquise De Sarah, Bullet Point and D Gs Pesquero battled down the stretch, but driver Paul MacDonell angled Rubis Prescott out on the grandstand side and the Dean Nixon trainee charged up late into the mix. Rubis Prescott reached up in the final strides for the upset victory, hitting the wire in 1:54.1 on the -10 degree evening. D Gs Pesquero was the runner-up over Marquise De Sarah as they came in half a length behind. Bullet Point finished one and a quarter lengths back in fourth.
Owned by Icr Racing of Pefferlaw, Ont., Rubis Prescott has now won half of her eight starts during her third season of racing and has earned $55,590 in purses.
The double-digit longshot paid $26.40 for a $2 win ticket.
After tonight's victory, the five-year-old daughter of Mach sports a career record reading 13-9-5 in 54 races and is closing in on $200,000 in earnings.
In other Friday news, General Brock Series champion Bourbon Bay ($4.60) extended his win streak to five in a row with a 1:55 three-length triumph in a $22,000 conditioned trot. Mike Saftic drove the four-year-old Sand Vic gelding for trainer Mike Sinclair and John Cummings Jr. of Nichols, New York.
Woodbine's Jackpot Hi 5 pool continues to grow and Saturday's wager will have a $436,904.35 carryover. First race post time is 7:25 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.