Stormaway shocks at WEG

Seemingly out of contention at the top of the stretch, Stormaway blazed a path down the lane late to pull a major shocker in the $88,000 Spring Pacing Championship Saturday night at Woodbine. The time of the mile was 1:52.2.

Mark Megens drove the Northern Luck horse to the neck victory over Secrets Nephew. Tigerama was third, beaten a length. Escape The Wind, a career winner of $1.5 million, finished last at a distance.

As for the winner, it was 4-year-old’s 15th career win for trainer Dan Megens, who also owns a piece of the Ontario-bred with breeders Janice Van Nest and Peter Caetano.

On paper, the 2007 edition of the Spring Pacing Championship appeared wide open, the proverbial “anyone can win” race.

Early on, Secrets Nephew took the lead, cutting a clip of :27.2. On the turn, John Dilinger took over, holding the advantage through a half-mile in :55 and three-quarters in 1:23. In midstretch, Make it Brief seized the advantage after Four Starz Sisco and Rare Jewel made bids on the turn.

Few saw Stormaway coming.

Megens roused his bay in the center of the strip and Stormaway responded with a strong, steady beat to get up in the final jumps.

While he was the longest shot on the board after two disappointing efforts, seventh and ninth, in the first two legs of the series, Stormaway is a legitimate stakes horse. He wracked up $290,357 in earnings in 2006 from 13 wins. This year, he had managed only one win in six starts before his Saturday night tour de force.

Stormaway paid $85.60, $22.30 and $11.60 across the board and combined with Secrets Nephew ($6.10, $4.30) for a $436.30 exactor. (Woodbine press release)

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