Midnite Romp turned in a game first-over effort for driver Rick Zeron on Friday to take the lone $20,000 second leg division of The Count B Pacing Series at Woodbine Racetrack.
The Count B Pacing Series is for sophomore pacing colts and geldings that were non-winners of three races or $30,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31/08.
Midnite Romp used his rail advantage to land in fifth in the bulky field of 11 sophomores, as leg one winner Herestopatrick (Randy Waples) was parked to make the front in a :28.1 opening quarter. His lead, however, did not last long as My Gift To You (Jody Jamieson), one half of the heavily favoured Mark Ford entry, overtook command at the :57.2 half.
Zeron followed that move and he methodically eased Midnite Romp first-over against My Gift To You, drawing within two and a quarter lengths at the 1:25.4 three-quarters. Sitting second on the outside of My Gift To You at the top of the lane, Midnite Romp was put under a heavy drive by Zeron and used a 27-second final panel to score the 11-1 upset by a half-length in a career best 1:53.1.
My Gift For You settled for second, with Herestopatrick third. The other half of the Ford entry, Artists Rally (Mark MacDonald), was fourth.
David Gibson trains Midnite Romp for partners David Goodrow Stable and Glenn Tarver. In 10 lifetime starts, the gelded son of Million Dollar Cam has two wins and a bankroll of $30,730.
The $52,400 final of The Count B Pacing Series is next Friday at Woodbine.
In other racing action, Four Starzz Meliss made it three straight in the $44,000 Mares Open Pace. In rein to Zeron, the eight-year-old Cambest mare made every call a winning one, cutting fractions of :26, :55.1 and 1:23.3 en route to a convincing two and a quarter-length triumph in 1:51.1.
Marietta Hall (Mark MacDonald) was next best, while Arts A Flutter (Randy Waples) completed the top three.
Glenn Lalonde conditions Four Starzz Meliss for owners Jennifer Lalonde and John Nother. ‘Meliss’ is perfect three starts so far this year, earning $66,000. Now a 36-time winner, she pushed her earnings to $667,446.
To view Woodbine’s results, click here.