Joey Poirer was sitting last with Eastview Dexter at the half-mile point of the Saturday feature at Northside Downs but the duo was first when it mattered.
A compact and competitive group of six was assembled for the $1,400 Winners Over Pace at Northside on Saturday (July 14) with the public throwing its support behind pretty much everyone but Eastview Dexter, despite the pacer coming in off a lifetime best 1:59 win in his last start. Poirer settled Eastview Dexter into fourth early as Brother John (Randy Getto) and Widlcat Jet (Mark Pezzarello) took turns on the lead.
Wildcat Jet made the first calls of :28.2 and :58.3 before feeling the pressure of first-over challenger Dreamfair Van Dam (Gerard Kennedy). That pacer pulled Keep A Secret (Roddy Hurley) up into second-over position at the half and around the five-eighths mark, leaving Eastview Dexter sixth and last.
Heading into the backstretch for the final time, Poirer gave Eastview Dexter his cue and the pacer responded with a fierce backside brush that propelled him three-wide and into contention as the third quarter was reached in 1:29.4. Dreamfair Van Dam cleared pacesetter Wildcat Jet heading into the final turn, but he had to deal with the fresh threat of Eastview Dexter. Through a sharp :29.3 final panel. Eastview Dexter easily shot past Wildcat Jet and pulled away for a win by more than two lengths in 2:00.2. Dreamfair Van Dam and Keep A Secret completed the top three.
Owned by trainer Brian O'Donnell of New Waterford, N.S., Eastview Dexter (Electric Stena - Handful Of Success) is enjoying career-best form at the age of seven with a 4-1-0 summary in his eight seasonal starts and $2,513 in earnings. He's on pace to eclipse personal bests in both seasonal wins (five) and earnings ($3,645).
To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Northside Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.