Autumn Series Final set for Friday

The Raceway at Western Fair District is set to host the Autumn Series Final for two and three-year-old Ontario Sired harness racing pacing colts and geldings this Friday (October 29th). The top eight money earners from the two legs contested, on October 15th and 22nd, will battle for the lion’s share of $25,600.

The Shadow Play rookie, Unlaced, will look to sweep the series for veteran trainer Blair Burgess. He kicked off his winning ways in Leg One of the series by taking over the lead around the final turn and pulling away to a three and a quarter length lifetime best score. Unlaced returned the following week and lowered his lifetime best, by a fifth of a second, to secure his spot in the final. An inside post draw certainly adds to this contender’s chances of winning the Final.

Unlaced will face Spicey P and Hippyjohn who both bypassed Leg Two of the series – after winning their opening legs. Hippyjohn, trained by Gregg McNair, recently made the move to Ontario after racking up five Maritime wins at Inverness Raceway. The three-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding made two starts over Woodbine Mohawk Park, including a second-place finish in a ‘non-winners of one’ event, before making the trek to the Forest City oval. In his Autumn Series debut he’d live up to his heavy favourite status by dominating in a lifetime best of 1:56.4 and winning by double-digit lengths.

O’Brien Award-winning-driver, Doug McNair, will pick be in the sulky for Friday’s final. “He’s a handy little horse with quick speed.” says McNair. “I think he can carry it pretty far.” Hippyjohn has drawn the tough outside post seven, but past performances indicate he should be up for the task.

The $25,600 Autumn Series Final is set to go off, in Race 6, at about 6:45 PM Eastern. First-race post time, for the eleven-race card, is 4:50 – with HD live streaming and free programs available here.  

by Tony Elliott, for The Raceway