P C Dream Ticket ($31.90) posted a 14-1 upset in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot on Wednesday night (July 11) at Grand River Raceway, while Cut And Paste ($4.40) lived up to 6-5 billing with plenty in reserve in the co-featured $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace for fillies and mares.
In the night's trotting feature, P C Dream Ticket settled comfortably in midfield while Spartan Victory (Ryan Holliday) was pressed through a sharp :28.2 first quarter by 6-5 favourite Stormont Kate, who then worked her way to the fore before rating middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27.4. As the pace slowed up the far side, Colin Kelly angled P C Dream Ticket second-over behind the live cover of Eternal Quest (Scott Coulter) before pushing three-wide at the eighth pole. The eight-year-old Cornaro Dasolo gelding vaulted to the fore at first asking, putting a length on Eternal Quest for a 1:58.3 score. Pacesetter Stormont Kate could only muster third place after being reeled in.
Trainer Jared Bako co-owns 11-time winner P C Dream Ticket with Taylor Fritz, Christopher Jewitt and John Gray.
While a clear favourite was engulfed in the top trot, Cut And Paste had plenty in reserve at the end of the night's top distaff pace. The multiple stakes winner protected the pocket from the pegs before clearing Miss Brandi K (Scott Coulter) at the end of a :27.4 first quarter and facing nary a challenge from then on. Cut And Paste coasted through middle fractions of :57.3 and 1:26.4 before drawing clear to win in 1:56.1 under considerable restraint from Robert Shepherd. Village Jamie (Scott Young) rallied off second-over cover to take second, 3-3/4 lengths in arrears, while Miss Brandi K faded to third after giving futile chase from the pocket.
The five-year-old daughter of Well Said earned her 13th win for the Imagine Stable and trainer Stephane Larocque.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.