Fifth Estate and trainer/driver Ernie Laffin were last at the half but circled the field despite the sloppy conditions to win the featured Winners Over Handicap Pace on Friday, Aug. 9 at Truro Raceway.
Coming off a career-best victory over the Truro half-miler last Friday, Fifth Estate was let go at 7-1 odds in the $2,500 top class.
Fifth Estate watched from the back of the compact field of five as a three-way battle for the lead took place at the outset while 1-9 favourite Rockin Corona (Darren Crowe) took back between foes and left outsider Wind Blown (Bernard McCallum) to take on insider Brumby (Emmons MacKay) through a :27.3 opening quarter.
Brumby kept Wind Blown parked out through a :57.1 half with Fifth Estate moving underway and rushing three-wide as they raced by three-quarters in 1:27.2. Wind Blown appeared to get a second wind as he tried to keep pace with the oncoming Fifth Estate while Brumby threw in the towel at the inside.
Fifth Estate forged ahead in the final turn and drew two lengths clear into the stretch, but Wind Blown wasn't done yet, digging in down the lane to make it a fight to the finish. Fifth Estate fought off Wind Blown in the end to win by a quarter of a length in 1:57.2. Risin Horizon (Keith Legge) finished third.
After completing the 2023 season without a victory, Fifth Estate has found his best stride in 2024, winning six times from 11 starts and taking a lifetime mark of 1:55.4. A career winner of nine races, the six-year-old gelded son of Country Estate and In Front is owned by Michelle Lyn Patriquin of Macphees Corner, N.S.
Fifth Estate returned $17.50 to win.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)