The four-year-old Mystician mare Witch Hunter launched from last to finish first in the $13,500 Funky Monkey Condition Claiming Series Final at The Track On 2 on Sunday (Aug. 28).
Driver Phil Giesbrecht settled Witch Hunter to race eighth, well off pacesetter Mystery Prince who sped to a :27.4 first quarter prompted by Nicotime first over and Firm Ringo pressing three wide. Nicotime stayed alongside Mystery Prince to click a :56.3 half as the backfield slowly reeled into action coming to the far turn.
Litizor launched off cover to sweep for the front after Mystery Prince folded at the pegs. Past three-quarters in 1:26.3, the field stampeded for home with Litizor and Firm Ringo helming the charge. But Witch Hunter fired from third over in the straightaway and barreled by her rivals to cross the beam in 1:57.4, 1-1/4 lengths better than Captain Fireball closing from last for second. HF Patrick finished third and Firm Ringo took fourth.
Rick Schneider owns Witch Hunter, who won her seventh race from 61 starts and has now banked $39,104. She paid $19.40 to win.
In the race prior, Shark Week lowered the track record for aged pacing stallions in winning the $6,500 Open Pace. The four-year-old son of Vertical Horizon took the lead early and stayed on the throttle through fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25.3 to seal the mile by three-quarter lengths in 1:52.4 over pocket-sitter Tiempo Hanover. The time beats the previous mark of 1:53.4 set by Shir Gain earlier this month.
Shark Week races for owners Lorne Duffield and trainer Rod Hennessy. He won his 12th race from 41 starts, has now earned $142,110 and paid $4.10 to win.
Past Affair pulled pocket to take the $6,500 Fillies and Mares Open Pace earlier in the card. Trainer-driver Dave Kelly stayed put behind pacesetter Mrs Suhwiggins as she carved a clip of :27, :56.2 and 1:26.1. Spinning for home, Kelly kicked the five-year-old Vertical Horizon mare out of the pocket and grabbed the front to win by a half length over Betcha Baby, who challenged the pacesetter first over and snagged second. Mrs Suhwiggins settled for third.
Kelly co-owns Past Affair with Mike Dicks. She won her 11th race from 50 starts, pushed her account to $103,405 and paid $13.50 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.