Despite starting the year with three straight wins -- including a top-class score one week ago -- the betting public decided that Thunder Alley wasn't the horse to beat in the Winners Over Pace at Northside Downs on Saturday, June 1.
To use a phrase made popular with Michael Jordan memes over the past few years, Thunder Alley seemingly took it personally.
In Saturday's eighth race, the $1,600 Winners Over Pace, Thunder Alley went postward as the 3-2 second choice but performed like the most solidly-backed 1-9 shot with a win by more than six lengths.
Driver Gerard Kennedy pointed the son of Mystery Chase - The Three Of Us to the top from post four and didn't face an anxious moment after clearing Keeperoftherealm (Ryan Campbell) just past the eighth mile mark. After fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:29.4, Thunder Alley had all five of his rivals some three lengths in arrears and the advantage just increased from there. A five-length margin at the head of the lane widened to 6-1/2 at the wire, with the mile timed in 1:59.1.
Favoured Rockinforreal (Jason MacNeil) shook loose late to rally for second over a pylon-skimming Runaway Mystery (Harold Leblanc Jr.).
Heather Hawkins trains eight-year-old Thunder Alley for Nova Scotia-based owners Terri Morrison of Marion Bridge, Irwin Claener of New Waterford, Kirk MacRae of Ben Eoin and Angus MacEachern of Howie Center. As the 3-2 second choice, he returned $5.10 to win in his 28th lifetime winner's circle appearance.
For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)