Debt Collector delivered on his pari-mutuel promise with a wide-open victory in the $14,100 male trotting final of the Sharpes Series on Saturday night (June 15) at Georgian Downs.
The three-leg June series was for horses and geldings four years old and younger that were maidens or non-winners of $5,000 lifetime (or $7,500 for Ontario-sired horses) as of April 30.
Clash cleared PM Acres Allways into the first turn and opened up a quick four-length lead passing the quarter mark in :28.4. He continued to front the field through a half in :58.3 before Debt Collector and driver Travis Henry tipped out from third to offer up a challenge down the backstretch. The favourite took over command near the 1:28.3 third quarter mark and built up by an insurmountable lead by the top of the stretch en route to victory in 1:59.3. The three-year-old Holiday Road gelding won by 7-3/4 lengths with the late-closing Delcrest Ronnie finishing second and PM Acres Allways checking in third.
Debt Collector was sent postward as the 1-2 favourite following a 1:59.1 career-best victory in the second leg of the series last week and third-place finish during round one. He paid $3.10 to win the final.
The Keith Jones trainee now has three career wins from 15 starts and earnings totalling $19,884 for owner Douglas McCarthy of Holland Landing, Ont.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results – Georgian Downs.