The three-year-old Archangel colt Arch Adam vacated pocket up the backstretch and quickly put his rivals away off the turn, coasting to an open-length victory in the second of two $8,000 third-preliminary Pop-Up Series divisions on Sunday (June 19) at Georgian Downs.
King Kactus cleared command from the outermost post in the sextet to cut fractions of :29.4 and :59.2 while Arch Adams drafted in second until driver Bob McClure decided to make his move with the Keith Jones trainee. He edged to a neck lead by three-quarters in 1:29.1 and widened his advantage around the final turn and through the stretch while King Kactus tired and broke stride off the corner. Arch Adam crossed the beam 8-1/4 lengths better than Serenade Street inheriting second with Wood Sherd another four lengths behind in third and King Kactus assuming fourth via disqualification.
Arch Adam races for owner Douglas McCarthy and won his first race from 12 starts while pushing his bankroll to $7,817. He paid $16 to win.
Magical Major delivered as the odds-on choice in the other Pop-Up Series division to win in 1:59.1. The Paul Reid trainee sat off the speed set by Black Bomber through fractions of :28.4 and :58.4 before driver Scott Young sent the three-year-old Father Patrick gelding for the front. He surged out of fifth following cover from Crew Chief and circumvented confusion between him and Black Bomber to ascend to the lead in the stretch and stride home a length winner over American Blizz K. R J Hooker recovered from a mid-race break to take third and Black Bomber moved into fourth via disqualification.
Trained by Paul Reid for owners Gary Lance, Trevor Lance and Brian Samis, Magical Major won his first race from seven starts and has now earned $12,540. He paid $3.50 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.