Kevin Bailey wasn't slated to drive Thunder Alley heading into the card of harness racing at Northside Downs on Saturday, July 6, but the connections had to be pleased when he was called into action.
The seventh race of the afternoon at Northside Downs was declared a no contest after an accident just past the opening quarter that involved Lock Her Up, Bobjohnski and The Ironman. Both Gerard Kennedy (driving Lock Her Up) and Joseph Poirier (driving The Ironman) were unseated, prompting Atlantic Provinces Harness Racing officials to declare the race a no contest.
Track officials indicated that the horses and drivers escaped the spill without serious injury. Kennedy booked off his scheduled drives for the afternoon.
With Kennedy — the regular pilot for top class stalwart Thunder Alley — resting, Bailey got the call in the ninth race feature and delivered picture perfect piloting for the victory in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace.
Kiss Me Im Irish (Mark Pezzarello) made the top early over the off going and carved out a serious :29.4 opening fraction before ratcheting down the speed to 1:01.3 at the half. Sitting in the pocket, Bailey felt the pressure coming from teh backfield at the midway point and angled Thunder Alley to the outer flow.
The top two traded blows around the turn but the momentum was on the side of Thunder Alley, who stormed past the third station in 1:31.3 and then pulled away from his rivals to win by more than five lengths in a time of 2:01.3. Daddys Eyes (Adam Lynk) rallied for second with Kiss Me Im Irish best of the rest in third.
Heather Hawkins trains eight-year-old Thunder Alley (Mystery Chase - The Three Of Us) for owners Terri Morrison of Marion Bridge, Irwin Claener of New Waterford, Kirk Macrae of Ben Eoin and Angus Maceachern of Howie Center, N.S. The win, the sixth of the year and 30th lifetime, lifted the pacer's earnings to $89,386 in his career. He returned $5.50 to win as the co-second choice.
Bailey also had a hand in helping Jeremy Baker record his first lifetime driving victory earlier on the card. Baker guided Bailey pupil Behavenmyself to her first win of the year in the afternoon's third race, a wire-to-wire 2:05.3 score for the eight-year-old pacing mare.
Coincidentally, Baker and Thunder Alley also have a connection as the 18-year-old Blackrock, N.S. horseman recorded his first charted mile earlier this year in a qualifier aboard the veteran pacer. This was just Baker's third career pari-mutuel drive since receiving his license.
For the results from the Saturday card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)