Gerry Hudon trainee Blast Of Sunshine rebounded off a bobble in stride in last week’s elimination to strike a 32-1 upset in the $30,000 Ed Tracey Memorial, for four-year-old pacing stallions and geldings, on Saturday (May 6) at Century Downs.
Launching from post eight, driver Phil Giesbrecht grabbed command with Blast Of Sunshine past a :27.3 first quarter. The son of Sunshine Beach faced no challenge to a :56.2 half and readied for the first-over push from odds-on favourite Kill A Dragon up the backside.
Kill A Dragon dug into Blast Of Sunshine to three-quarters in 1:24.1, but the pacesetter responded to the challenge. Blast Of Sunshine spun for home and maintained 1-1/2 lengths on pocket-sitter Kioti to win in 1:53.1 while Kill A Dragon levelled off to finish third and Grampian Road took fourth.
Blast Of Sunshine competes for owners Monica Hudon, Denise Andrew and Jocelyn Giesbrecht. He has now won five races from 15 starts and banked $39,220. As the fifth-longest shot on the board, he paid $66 to win.
Opposite dividends paid in the co-featured $30,000 Bev Sears Memorial, for four-year-old pacing mares. Grey Sea, the 2-5 favourite, vaulted by her competition to a 1:54 victory.
Cozey Up kicked from post eight to the lead to a :28.2 first quarter and then yielded command to Outlaw What If CC passing the stands first time. Outlaw What If CC clicked a :56.4 half, but she shortened in stride and backed through the field to three-quarters.
Rison Star led the charge along the rim as Outlaw What If CC faltered with Grey Sea perched second over. She soon launched her bid to the center of the course as three-quarters clocked in 1:25 and spurted clear around the turn and through the lane to a 2-1/2-length win. Rison Star held second with Cozey Up finishing third and Dialmeup taking fourth.
Driver Nathan Sobey trains Grey Sea, a daughter of Custard The Dragon, for owner-breeder Seaspray Stables Ltd. She won her ninth race from 12 starts and padded her bankroll to $52,330. Grey Sea paid $2.40 to win.
Shark Week rolled from the pylon post to a 1:52.3 victory in the undercard feature, a $14,000 Preferred Pace. The five-year-old Vertical Horizon gelding cut a clip of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:25.2 to post a two-length win as the 2-5 favourite over Armycaptin Hanover, who pushed first over to take second. Whiplash Smile rode the pocket to finish third and Bonus Round took fourth.
Rod Hennessy trains and co-owns Shark Week with Lorne Duffield. The pacer won his 26th race from 60 starts and has now earned $243,475. He paid $2.80 to win.
Firenado scored in the $11,000 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace. The five-year-old Mystician gelding rallied from a pylon trip to a four-length victory in 1:53.3 over pacesetter and 8-5 favourite Outlaw Gunsablazin. Kelly Crump trains and leases the 11-time winner from 51 outings who has now earned $65,423. Thomas Michael Miller drove the $7.40 winner.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Century Downs.