James Moore III’s NF Happenstance ($2.60, Jack Parker Jr.) survived a contentious early pace battle to prevail in the $17,000 Open Trot in 1:54.3 at Harrington Raceway on Wednesday.
As the only mare in a compact field of five, the four-year-old daughter of SJs Caviar fought through a :27.3 second opening quarter to gain the lead from Spunky Jack while Awsome Valley was parked on the outside. NF Happenstance kept Awsome Valley parked throughout fractions of :55.2 and 1:24.4 before drawing clear for an open length win. A game Awsome Valley held second over Traverse Seelster.
The win was the second straight for NF Happenstance, who reset the track record (1:54.2) for four-year-old trotting mares last week, and set a new North American season’s mark for trotters on a half-mile track in the process.
Tony Morgan and Ross Wolfenden each had three winners on the program. Allan Davis and Vince Copeland each had two.
(With files from Harrington Raceway)