Eastcoast Invader and trainer/driver Monica Sutherland staged a three-wide rally to upset popular veteran pacer Euchred in Sunday afternoon's featured top class at Inverness Raceway.
With the inside post advantage, Sunshine Lou (Danny Gillis) established the lead off the gate in the $1,800 Winners Over Pace with trailing tier starter Windemere Best Man (Redmond Doucet) protecting pocket position early and 9-5 favourite Euchred (Walter Walker) pressing to their outside. Euchred able to drop in behind the leader by the quarter in :28.4 as Windemere Best Man broke stride around the opening turn and was taken out of contention.
Looking for his second win in a row and his 80th lifetime victory, Euchred tracked Sunshine Lou from the pocket through evenly rated splits of :58.4 and 1:28.4 before launching his attack. But as he wore down the pacesetter in the stretch, Eastcoast Invader came flying three-wide from off the pace to steal the spotlight, winning by a widening 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58.4. Euchred settled for second and Solid Silver (Rodney Gillis) took third over Sunshine Lou.
Sent postward as odds of 6-1 from the outside post, Eastcoast Invader followed in fourth throughout the mile before kicking home in :28.4 to pull off the upset. He paid $15.70 to win.
Eastcoast Invader picked up his 18th career victory and improved his seasonal record to 4-3-3 from 17 starts for Sutherland and her father Todd, who bred the six-year-old Rollwithitharry gelding.
With her win in the afternoon's featured finale, Sutherland held her position in second-place in the driver standings at the Inverness meet during her rookie season, tied with Rodney Gillis (16 wins) behind Redmond Doucet (24 wins).
Live harness racing continues on Sunday afternoons at Inverness Raceway through October.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.