Veteran pacer Icy Blue Scooter survived a first-over journey to take top honours in Friday's featured $12,000 Preferred Handicap at Century Downs for trainer/driver Nathan Sobey.
Icy Blue Scooter left from post six and settled into third through a :27.2 first quarter before launching his first-over attack as the backfield moved underway. He advanced alongside longshot leader Whiplash Smile (Thomas Miller) as they passed the half in :57.1 and those two battled head-to-head down the backstretch.
Icy Blue Scooter eventually wore down Whiplash Smile and drew clear at three-quarters in 1:25.4 while 6-5 favourite Ernesto Delacuz (J.F. Gagne) set his sights on the new leader as he rallied three-wide from the backfield. However, Icy Blue Scooter freezed him out, holding more than two lengths clear through the lane to win in 1:54.1. Ernesto Delacruz held on for second over Vegas Gambler (Phil Giesbrecht) and Wine Thirty (Mike Hennessy).
Moving up in class off a victory last Friday, Icy Blue Scooter was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.80 to win.
Sobey owns the 10-year-old Blue Burner gelding, who is three-for-10 this year, with Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy. A career winner of 42 races, Icy Blue Scooter boasts a bankroll of $366,203.
An accident occurred in Friday's ninth race finale, resulting in the race being declared a No Contest. Officials with Century Downs told Trot Insider that Jamie Gray, driving Outlaw Blue Isle, and Clint Warrington, in rein to Gin Is Better, went down in the accident and that all drivers and horses were able to walk off the track under their own power. No further details were provided.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Century Downs.