With Mark MacDonald at the controls, Scorpion Moon pulled the pocket and glided past pacesetter Armbro Chronicle in the stretch to pull off a 9-1 upset in Monday’s $50,000 Open Trot at Woodbine Racetrack
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Scorpion Moon flashed early gate speed and was first away from Post 5, but settled for a two-hole trip as Mike Saftic sent the favoured Armbro Chronicle to the top around the first turn.
Armbro Chronicle cleared the front after the :28.1 first quarter and led the single file field of six past markers of :57.1 and 1:26.2.
After rounding the final turn, MacDonald pulled the pocket and Scorpion Moon swept past for the two length score in 1:54.4.
Rose Run Hooligan and Simon Allard got up for second over Armbro Chronicle.
Scorpion Moon paid $21.80 to win.
“He [Armbro Chronicle] looked like he was labouring in the last turn off of soft fractions," said MacDonald in a post race interview. "I expected him to just tow me around there and after the last turn he was labouring and maybe not a 100 per cent, not himself, but I was able to capitalize on it.”
After winning four of his 18 starts in 2009 and earning $130,210, Scorpion Moon is now two-for-four this year with $43,500 banked.
“He’s just such a nice horse. He’s so handy,” said MacDonald. “He’s got such good gate speed and can cross right over and get those nice two-hole trips. He’s just a nice horse and he keeps getting better with age. I think he’s better now than he was last year.”
Trainer Tracy Brainard shares ownership of the nine-year-old Armbro Scorpion-Angies Nugget gelding with Andrew Herzog of Monticello, New York. Lifetime, the 62-time career winner has earned $655,370.
To view Monday's results, click here.