If there's been one consistent element to the Winners Over class at Northside Downs this season, that element would be parity. There's a group of pacers that compete, but each week the race is a wide-open affair.
Of the nine races on the Saturday card at Northside Downs, only the Winners Over class had each entrant under double-digit odds. And while other races had those longer shots deliver, the public had a pretty good idea of who would appear in the eighth race winner's circle.
After yielding briefly to Brother John (Randy Getto) as the field completed the first turn, co-second choice Southwind Ricardo was out and driving and cleared to the top well before the :29 opening panel. Driver Ryan Campbell confidently maintained the lead with Southwind Ricardo through middle splits of :59.2 and 1:29 before attempting to pull away from his five foes. A two-length lead turning for home started to diminish approaching the wire as last week's winner, Keep A Secret (Roddy Hurley) found a seam and started a ferocious late rally. Southwind Ricardo would not be denied, holding off the challenge of Keep A Secret by just a neck in 2:00.1. Favoured Surrealist (Bob MacCormick) was another nine lengths back in third.
Southwind Ricardo (Dragon Again - Southwind Rio) collected his fourth win of the season for owner-trainer Ron Seyour Jr. and co-owner Joel Leblanc of Nova Scotia. The win, his 17th lifetime, pushed the career earnings of Southwind Ricardo to $86,265.
To view the results from Saturday's card at Northside Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.