Shoplifter Hanover held off the pesky Minettas Nightstar in a photo finish in the featured $8,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace to give the hot horseman Jamie Gray his fifth win on the Friday night card at Northlands Park
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Gray made a quarter pole move with Shoplifter Hanover, sending the four-year-old mare to command after a :27.3 opening quarter. The front-runner took a second quarter breather, reaching the half-mile marker in :58.4 before coming under attack.
At the midway point, driver Bobby Clark sent Minettas Nightstar first up from third and locked in a duel with the tempo-setter down the backstretch. The top two mares battled head-to-head to three-quarters in 1:27 with their four other foes trailing four lengths behind.
Shoplifter Hanover began to edge back out in front around the final turn and drew clear in the stretch, but a last ditch effort from Minettas Nightstar resulted in a photo finish. Despite the close call, Shoplifter Hanover managed to hang on by a head for the victory in 1:56.2. Rounding out the top three finishers was runner-up Minetta Nightstar's stablemate, Dewinton Destroyer and John Chappell.
Shoplifter Hanover paid $7 to win as the 5-2 second choice. Gray trains the Dragon Again mare, who hasn't missed the board in six starts this year, for owner Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, Alta. The win was her second of the season and 10th lifetime, pushing her earnings to $62,157.
Gray also picked up wins in the previous three races with the Alvin Jensen-trained K B Hercules ($6.50), Outlaw I See Red ($7.70) for conditioner Joe Ratchford, and his own trainee Rossridge Divine ($5.50). He also won earlier on the card with Lance Ward pupil Mr Mozzart ($7.90).
Horseman Gerry Hudon also enjoyed a productive night at the office scoring three training-driving wins with the maiden-breaking Jack Cameeasy ($5.20), Kg Rowan ($4.10), and Drumheller ($6). Hudon's victory with Drumheller marked the 2,500th time he has visited the winner's circle in his driving career.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Northlands Park.