Lil Sebastian ($29.10) turned in a career-best performance to headline the opening leg of a Pop-Up Claiming Series featured on Friday, May 30 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
With Scott Young catch-driving, Lil Sebastian retook the lead when the parked out No Fool Mackinley cleared on the backstretch then fought off 4-5 favourite Steelwheel Hanover through the stretch for a 13-1 upset in the faster of two $15,000 divisions in this series for $20,000 male claimers that are non-winners of $60,000 (Ontario-sired $75,000) lifetime. His 1:53.1 winning time knocked more than two full seconds off his lifetime mark.
Pam Forgie trains the four-year-old Betterthancheddar-Warrawee Limelight gelding, who was recently claimed for $25,000 by Stephen Iaquinta and William Dittmar Jr. on May 3 at Flamboro Downs.
The other Pop-Up division was won by Rick Heaman's homebred Easily The Best ($15.10) after tracking the cover of Vis A Vis Bluechip from the halfway point and besting that rival and his favoured stablemate Rustys Bett. Driven by Travis Henry, the Matt Dupuis trainee prevailed by a neck in 1:55.1 at odds of 6-1.
This Pop-Up Series continues next Friday, June 6 and will be followed by the $25,000 final on Friday, June 13.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)