Veteran trotter Winzel turned in a big effort going from last to first with Nick Steward aboard to pull off a mild 6-1 upset in the $11,000 Preferred 2 Handicap early Friday night at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Four-wide through the first eighth of the mile after trying to leave from her outside assigned post, the popular 4-5 mare Thundering Ovation was forced to take back and settled into fourth. With the inner advantage, Cimeronken held command and the invading Rideau Carleton mare Out Of The Hat was parked out and pressuring as Dragin The Wagon tucked into third. The first quarter was clocked in :27.4.
Cimeronken continued to lead the trotters to the half in 59 seconds with Out Of The Hat first up and Thundering Ovation tipping out on that one's cover. Money Maven, meanwhile, moved third over from the backfield with Winzel joining the outer flow from the trailing position.
As the field of seven headed down the backstretch, Thundering Ovation went wide to get around the fading Out Of The Hat, as did her followers. The favourite took the lead at three-quarters in 1:30 with Money Maven closing in and Winzel circling up three-wide as they rounded the final turn.
Money Maven edged by Thundering Ovation down the stretch, but Winzel kept on coming and just nosed out that rival to the wire in a photo finish, producing a $14.50 win payout. The final time of the mile was 2:01.4 over the "good" track on the -15 degree evening. The closing chestnut, Wattafine Rythem, finished over three lengths back in third ahead of Dragin The Wagon.
Winzel earned his second win of the year and now has six top-three finishes in seven Preferred starts during his 10-year-old campaign. Brittany Kennedy trains and co-owns the Royal Strength gelding with Janet Fairall of Windsor, Ont. and Nancy and Jack Holmes of Clinton, Ont.
A 41-time career winner, Winzel has banked $258,659 in purses.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.