Going from last to first, Shir Gain and driver Rodney Gillis weaved through traffic and reeled in the front-striding favourite to take top honours in the the first fall edition of the Winners Over Pace at the Inverness Raceway meet on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 22.
Sunshine Lou (Campbell MacIsaac), the 4-5 favourite and winner of two of his last four starts in the $2,000 top Inverness class, chased the starting gate away out of post three and forged ahead of insider La Playa Deo (Andrew MacLean) through a :28.3 opening quarter. He then stole a second quarter breather to half :58.2 and started to open up four lengths down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:27.3.
Meanwhile, outside starter Shir Gain was last through the first half-mile in the featured finale and started to improve position along the pylons when a pair in front of him clogged the outer flow. He then followed the cover of Windemere Best Man (John MacDonald) around a tiring La Playa Deo, who broke stride down the backstretch. Sir Gain was full of pace and ranged up alongside Windemere Best Man as they caught up to the pacesetting Sunshine Lou in the final turn and propelled past them both approaching the wire to win by half a length in 1:57.1. Sunshine Lou held on for second with Windemere Best Man finishing third in between.
Shir Gain, a runner-up in last week's Winners Over, returned $16.70 for the mild 7-1 upset in his fifth seasonal success.
The six-year-old Blue Burner-Shirley Hall gelding started his career in Western Canada before joining the stable of Donald Beaton of Port Hood, N.S. this summer. He now has 14 career wins and earnings totalling $72,843.
Gillis, who won half of Sunday's six races, also teamed up with Beaton for a victory with Igot Socks ($10.20).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)