Making a big move at the third quarter check point, trainer/driver Ron Graham put Sixdaysontheroad in a position to draw clear down the lane and capture the $11,500 Open Pace and his eighth straight victory with confidence Saturday afternoon at Grande Prairie
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The Allamerican Native-Resume Speed colt sat back in third as Smark Shark (Connie Kolthammer) and Skip To My Mjjz (Brent Grundy) locked in a heated battle on the front-end through panels of :28.1, :56.2 and 1:26.4. Before the half-mile marker, Sixdaysontheroad decided to get in on the action and the odds-on favourite moved to the outside and then tipped three-wide at the three-quarters mark. Sixdaysontheroad powered home in :29.3 gaining a seven and a quarter length lead on his four rivals. He stopped the clock in 1:56.3.
Outlaw Mister Cool (Keith Clark) and Barona Grizzly (Brandon Campbell) finished second and third.
Owned by Walter Moroz of Edmonton, Alta., Sixdaysontheroad maintained his perfect 2009 record with the win. The talented sophomore colt has earned 10 wins and two seconds in 13 starts lifetime with $33,783 in earnings.
In other action, Race 6 was declared a "No Contest" as a result of a break made by Weareverigo (Ron Graham) from Post 1. Weareverigo broke stride after the wind blew the starting gate into her face causing her to interfere with the trailing eight-horse West Attitude (Jerry Nelner).
The recall light flashed on and then went off. Three drivers did pull up at the start when they assumed there would be a recall, but five horses got away and proceeded to race to the half mile before pulling up.
Ultimately, it was decided that the $6,600 purse money would be divided among the eight starters in the event.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.
(With files from Grande Prairie)