Trainer Kelly Hoerdt had power in numbers in Friday’s $30,000 Cloverdale Pace Final at Fraser Downs, but not many expected Hoerdt’s Go Nine O to rise to the occasion.
Sent off at odds of 17-1, Go Nine O was treated to a pocket trip before rallying to the upset win over fellow longshot Major Winker in 1:54.1.
Night Stick and Rockin N Talking went toe-to-toe past the opening quarter in :26.1, and neither one blinked as the continued to wage war to the half-mile marker in :54. Night Stick started to soften up Rockin N Talkin as the field whizzed by the three-quarter pole in 1:23.1, but at the same time he had softened up himself in the process.
Go Nine O and Allan Molloy found clearance in the late stages of the mile and only needed a :30.4 closing quarter to prevail by 2-1/2 lengths over Major Winker in 1:54.3. Night Stick and Thakyaverymuch were third and fourth, respectively, for trainer Hoerdt.
The four-year-old son of Custard The Dragon-Mater Deo is now 2-for-4 this season for Hoerdt, who owns the 14-time winner. The lion’s share of the loot lifted the pacer’s career earnings to just shy of $140,000.
The victory was one of four training scores on the card for conditioner Kelly Hoerdt, who has been piling up the wins over the oval as of late.
He also clicked with Joe King (1:54.4), Spiderdman (1:55.1) and Outlawstandanddelivr (1:55.1).
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Fraser Downs.