Sent postward as the longest shot on the board, Charmbo Prince pulled off a big upset in the ninth edition of the $15,000 Vic Hayter Memorial Invitational Trot on Sunday, July 21 at Clinton Raceway.
Gunning off the gate from post six in Sunday afternoon's featured finale, Charmbo Prince and driver J Harris secured the lead when the inside leavers, Like Chaos (Bruce Richardson) and Cool Clifford (Paul MacKenzie), both broke stride by the first turn.
Charmbo Prince hit the quarter on top in :28.4 with Mercutio (Travis Henry) parked and pressing through a half in :57.3.
Charmbo Prince was able to shake off the pesky Mercutio down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:27.3 and trotted clear through the wire for the 30-1 upset victory in 1:58 flat while 8-5 favourite Marvin Hagler chased 2-1/2 lengths behind from the pocket. Heavy Dude E (Tyler Moore) finished third over Mercutio.
Charmbo Prince is owned by trainer Pam Forgie and David Wilkinson of Goderich, Ont.
The seven-year-old Royalty For Life-Hetties Charm gelding was making his third appearance in the Hayter Memorial and won the event for the second time. He previously won the 2021 edition in 1:58.2 with Mike Saftic driving for trainer John Rier.
Charmbo Prince was coming off a six-length romp against Preferred 3 trotters at Hanover Raceway last weekend and had won a Pop-Up Series at Clinton last month. Overlooked at odds of 30-1, he returned $62.30 to his backers for a $2 win ticket.
The chestnut trotter now has 21 career wins with earnings approaching the $200,000 mark.
The race was part of an annual event at the track that included fundraising activities benefitting Stratford Perth Humane Society, all in memory of the late Stratford, Ont. hotelier Vic Hayter. More than $3,000 was raised for the organization near and dear to Hayter.
The afternoon began with driver Louis-Philippe Roy's three-year-old trotting filly Sue Anne ($3.60) earning her second victory in the Prospect Series, working past Sandoon through a :27.4 first quarter duel and fighting off that foe at the end of the 2:00.3 mile. Roy shares ownership of the Muscle Mass-Dalliance Seelster filly with his brother Pierre-Luc Roy along with Maude Larouche and Jean Allaire. Eric Nadeau handles the training duties.
Live harness racing continues on Sunday, July 28 at Clinton along with a Dachshund dash.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)