Sorprese back with a bang

Sorprese took Hiawatha Horse Park’s first feature of the harness racing season on Saturday with an authoritative third quarter move to the front in the Preferred 3 Trot.

She tucked in third from post two for Marc St. Louis, who was looking to complete a driving triple, and remained in position through the first quarter mile in :27.4. St. Louis then moved the mare first over and advanced as the field of nine turned for the second time.

Sorprese overtook Zorgwijk Tim (Lorne House) for the lead after the half in :57.2, and St. Louis fashioned a breather for his mount in the third quarter, which they finished in 1:28.1. The duo turned for home with a two-length cushion, and Sorprese responded to St. Louis’ urging to keep all foes at bay and score his first win of 2021 in 1:58.4.

Spare Seed (Scott Wray) wrested the place spot from Constantino (Garrett Rooney), who finished third, after a stretch battle. The winner paid $2.90.

SORPRESE REPLAY

Sorprese is now a four-time winner from 29 starts, and she hit the $100,000 earnings mark with the victory. Mark Goddard trains the four-year-old by Conway Hall for Howard Kaufman of Bryn Mawr and Joshua Kaufman of Philadelphia.

St. Louis also scored with Kissinbythebeaches (1:57) in race five and Quickstar Bluechip (1:56) in race eight.

Heavy Dude E, a sophomore Holiday Road colt, dominated on debut with a five-length 2:01.4 win in the opener. Tyler Borth trained and drove for Natalie Elliott of Clinton. Kissinbythebeaches was timed in 1:57 as he also won his first lifetime start. He’s a four-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach. Brandon Guerra of Bradford owns; Mark Goddard trains. D Procrastinator rewarded the patience of his owners as the four-year-old Prestidigitator gelding broke his maiden in 2:01.4 in his 35th career start. Dennis Morrissey trains and co-owns with Deana Dambrosio.

Hiawatha Horse Park was hosting its first race date since Sep. 19, 2020. The track currently does not allow fans and follows COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. The Sarnia, ON oval will be back on Saturday, Jun. 19, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EDT and race every Saturday until the middle of September.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink