The chances of defeating Mappos Lion after an uncontested middle half of 63 seconds are somewhere between slim and none. And as the saying goes, slim just left town.
Back at Northside Downs after taking his show on the road to Inverness Raceway this past Sunday, Mappos Lion picked up his fifth win of the season in five outings, extending his current win streak to eight in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace feature at Northside on Saturday, June 13.
Bet down expectedly to 1-9, Mappos Lion wasn't sent right to the top by driver Ryan Campbell this week. Instead, Campbell floated Mappos Lion off the gate allowed the duty to settle up top first before giving the pacer his cue around the opening turn. With swift strides, Mappos Lion advanced first over and cleared Kountry Diamond (Larry Snow) before the :29.4 opening quarter.
Here, Campbell ratcheted down the tempo and stole a 10-ply middle half of 1:03 — half in 1:02 and three-quarters in 1:32.4 — over the 'good' going and then sprinted home in :30.1 to easily best Kountry Diamond by three in 2:03. Thunder Alley (Kevin Bailey) completed the triactor ticket.
Nine-year-old Mappos Lion is now 10-1-0 in 11 starts since owners Hailee Currie of Rocky Point, P.E.I and Carol Campbell of Baddeck, N.S. brough the altered son of Sunshine Beach-Pacific Playmate back to Atlantic Canada at the start of 2025. He's now a 35-time winner in his career with more than $321,000 in purses earned.
Mappos Lion paid a predictable $2.10 to win.
For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)