No Collusion prevails in hard-fought Preferred

No Collusion (Riverboat King) forged clear late to upset in a closely-contested harness racing Preferred Pace at Century Mile on Saturday (Dec. 2).

The gelding sat third for Brandon Campbell as the five-horse group traveled in line through the quarter in :27.2 and to the half in :55.1. No Collusion took his shot on the far turn with a first-up move and quickly pulled abreast of leader Ernesto Delacruz (Jean-Francois Gagne).

Ernesto Delacruz, the even-money favourite, clung to the lead into mid-stretch, but No Collusion overwhelmed him shortly after. Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) picked up ground late, and Keystone Tenacious (Blake Piwniuk) was with them the whole way, but No Collusion was quickest home and completed the victory in a career-best 1:51.2.

Ernesto Delacruz held second over Samba Beat. The winner paid $14.80 as the second-longest shot on the board.

NO COLLUSION REPLAY

The victory brought No Collusion to the six-digit earnings milestone. The six-year-old is 20-for-67 and has earned $100,834 for owners Sean Ward of Edmonton and Lance Ward of Sherwood Park. The latter trains the gelding.

The 12-race card saw a far bigger upset in the following race as Outlaw Gunzablazin (Blue Burner, Jamie Gray) shocked at 38-1. The gelding swung out of third on the final turn and grinded to the front for a length-and-a-quarter victory in 1:53.3, equaling his career best.

OUTLAW GUNZABLAZIN REPLAY

The Rodney Starkewski-trained gelding reached a quarter-million in earnings with the win, bringing his total to $250,651. The seven-year-old has won 19 times in 117 lifetime tries for Starkewski, who co-owns him with Clauzette Byckal of Onoway.

Driver Michael Hennessy topped the card with five wins.

Century Mile will be back in action on Friday, Dec. 8.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink