After Friday night's Breeders Crown two-year-old finals wrapped up at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a record upset, Heavens Showgirl A pulled off her own upset on the undercard as she edged out the favourites in a photo finish in the $32,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace.
Favourites Voelz Delight (:27.4) and Dabarndawgswatchin (:56, 1:23.4) traded turns on the the lead through the first three-quarters of the mile with Heavens Showgirls A poised to pounce from mid-pack in the stretch. As the favourites battled down the lane, Heavens Showgirl A made it into the mix as she shot up the inside and prevailed by a nose at the wire in 1:51.3 for driver Bob McClure. Voelz Delight was second over Dabarndawgswatchin in the photo.
Heavens Showgirl A, who was up in class off a win last time out on Oct. 22, was the second-longest shot on the board at 12-1 and returned $27.90 to win.
The seven-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven-Miss Deville mare, who earned her seventh win from 25 starts this year, is trained by Donald Lindsey, who co-owns with Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel. The lion's share of the purse pushed her seasonal earnings over the $100,000 mark and her lifetime bankroll over $200,000.
McClure, who won the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Pace with the Shawn Steacy-trained Sylvia Hanover earlier in the night, will be looking to team up with Lindsey on night two of the Crown championships on Saturday with Gias Surreal and Poseidon Seelster attempting upsets of their own in the open divisions from the outside and trailing tier posts.
There were no surprises in the Harvest Series as The Hazelton and Winmebak turned in career-best performances to complete the sweep of their respective divisions of the three-week event for Ontario-sired two-year-old colts and geldings.
The Hazelton ($3.50) prevailed off a loose pocket trip, catching runaway pacesetter He Will in the stretch of the $46,600 trotting colt final. McClure drove the Muscle Mass colt to the one-length victory in 1:55.4 for trainer Mark Etsell, who co-owns with Terry Devos, Graham Hopkins and Peter Porter. Zip Me Up rounded out the top three finishers four lengths behind.
In the $48,700 pacing final, Millar Farms' Shadow Play gelding Winmebak ($3.10) and driver James MacDonald tracked cover during the third quarter and kicked home to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52 flat for trainer Nick Gallucci. Bar Down Jim finished second over Bettor B Sirius.
The series was for non-winners of $30,000 as of Sept. 30.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.