Ostinato scored the biggest win of her career as she posted a 15-1 upset in the $100,000 Slots Cup Series Final over a sloppy track at Hiawatha
Horse Park on Saturday night.
Leaving from the inside post position, Doug And Dude (Ryan Holliday) established an early five-length lead on the field of nine by the :26.3 opening quarter. As he raced past the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.2, the pocket-sitting Uncle Bill Mac (Aaron Byron) narrowed that margin and moved out to take over heading into the stretch.
Meanwhile, Ostinato and driver Billy Davis Jr., who was spotted back in sixth, followed her cover three-wide. The four-year-old Western Terror-Rojens Patriot mare unleashed a :29.2 final kicker to prevail in a career-best 1:54.4 by one length over a track rated two seconds off. Off The Schneid (Dean Wall) was second and Lookin For A Fight (Paul MacKenzie) finished six lengths behind in third.
Ostinato returned $32.90 for the upset. Trainer Jason McGinnis shares ownership of the winning mare with Jeffrey Wellwood of Toronto, ON. The victory was her sixth in 28 starts and boosted her earnings to $113,925 for 2010 and over $150,000 lifetime.
The Slots Cup Series, for Ontario-sired pacers that are four-years-old and younger and non-winners of $75,000 life as of January 15, 2010, began back on April 16 at Western Fair Raceway and included stops at Clinton, Hanover, Flamboro, Grand River and Georgian. Ostinato won her first leg division and finished in the money in all but one of the following legs due to a judges’ placing.
To view Saturday's results, click here.