Shark Festival wore down the popular pacesetter Sing Like An Angel to earn her first victory of the year in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino on Saturday (July 16).
Sing Like An Angel and Travis Cullen led the way through fractions of :29.1, :58.3 and 1:26.3 before Shark Festival and Ryan Grundy moved up to challenge off a three-hole trip and then drew one and a half lengths clear down the stretch to stop the clock in 1:55.1. Sing Like An Angel settled for second and Nighttraintovegas finished two lengths back in third for Travis Bowman.
Shark Festival was the 7-2 third wagering choice in the field that was scratched down to seven and paid $8.80 to win.
Trainer/driver Grundy claimed the five-year-old Shadow Play mare on June 25 for $11,250, and after a second-place finish in a $15,000 claiming-conditioned event last time out on July 9, she notched her first victory this year from 17 starts.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs.