The Friendship Pacing Series wrapped up on Saturday night back at Georgian Downs with Bay Of Sharks taking all the glory
.
Undefeated in the first three legs of the series and fresh off a break after sitting out during the fourth round, Bay Of Sharks trouced his rivals -- in particularly three Randy Van Meer trainees -- with a 1:53.2 wire-to-wire victory in the $44,800 final over a 'good' surface rated one second slow. With the inside post advantage, driver Paul MacKenzie and the six-year-old Cams Card Shark-Whitley Bay pacer took the lead and carved out fractions of :27, :56.1, and 1:24.3 en route to the two length tally over closers Amazon Art (Jonathan Drury) and Straight Shooting (Scott Coulter). Pocket-sitter Power Off (Stephen Byron) finished third. The favourite paid $2.40 to win.
Bay Of Sharks has won 10 times in 18 starts this year while banking $158,260 for trainer Corey Johnson and owner Michael Sergi. Tonight's win was his 21st lifetime and boosted his bankroll to $483,747.
The series, which featured alternating legs at Georgian and Kawartha Downs throughout the month of May, was for three-year-olds and up that are non-winners of $75,000 in 2011.
Saturday's $15,000 Preferred 2 Pace was won by the front-striding Piece Of The Rock in 1:52.4 with Robert Shepherd in tow. The half-million dollar earner is trained by Robert Young, who also co-owns with Jamie Trott of Orangeville, Brian Barton of Carlisle and Frank Aloise of Brampton. Scottiestrikesfame (Travis Bowman) finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in second off a pocket trip and Ok Boromir (Paul MacKenzie) rounded out the top three after a first over journey. The five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover-Paulas Promise gelding paid $5.30 to win as the bettors' choice.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.