Upset in Autumn Series Final

Southwind Stratus (Bettors Delight) came through at 11-1 to take the Ontario-sired Autumn Series Event D Final for two- and three-year-old harness racing pacing fillies on Monday (Oct. 23) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

The filly dropped into the pocket spot before the quarter in :28.3 for Austin Sorrie after a brief bid for control. She then watched leader Greystone Cheet O (Lorne House) duel with the first-up Vivi Z (Travis Henry) to the half in :58.3.

Greystone Cheet O began to repel Vivi Z at three-quarters in 1:27.2 and vanquished heading into the far turn. That rival’s surrender gave an escape route for Southwind Stratus, who pulled out as they straightened for home. Southwind Stratus bore down on the leader coming down the stretch and got up in time to win by a quarter-length in 1:58.

Greystone Cheet O was a game second. Im A Karen (Paul Mackenzie) closed from seventh to third.

SOUTHWIND STRATUS REPLAY

The victory was Southwind Stratus’s second lifetime in five starts. She had won neither preliminary leg of the series but made the ticket in both. Rachel Andrew trains the filly, now an earner of $19,685, for Murray Graham Macdonald of Belfast.

Racing will continue at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 5:50 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink