Upset in 2YO Colt Pace

It didn't come as a surprise to see Olay Olay and Artzina in the winner's on Saturday night at Woodbine, but the same can't be said for Sutter Hanover, who pulled off a 22-1 shocker in his Breeders Crown split for the 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Olay Olay notched his eighth win of the season by virtue of his career-best clocking of 1:51.4 in the first $25,000 elimination.

John Campbell had the Scott Bell-trainee on the lead through an opening quarter in :26.1 and the half-mile marker in :56.2 before giving up the front to Allamerican Bomber and Ron Pierce. Pierce put up the third marker in 1:24.1 while feeling pressure from Just Plug It In and Rick Zeron, who showed a short lead coming off the last turn.

Campbell angled Olay Olay back to the outside, however, and sailed to the two-length win over Laughing Art, who shook loose late to grab the runner-up spot for Mark MacDonald. Spin Rate and Brian Sears rallied to finish third while Island Delight took home fourth money and a berth into next week's final.

"He got around the half-mile track so well, I wasn't concerned with how he would do over the big track," said driver John Campbell. "He was a bit flat in Freehold in his last start, but he was a different horse tonight. This horse is set up very good both mentally and physically. His versatility is his best weapon."

Wayne Whebby of Dartmouth, NS, holds the papers on the career winner of $195,957.

Sutter Home pulled off a 22-1 upset in the second elimination thanks to an explosive stretch rally for driver Rick Zeron and trainer Mark Harder.

The colt blasted off cover as the field turned for home and his closing quarter of :27 propelled him to the 1:50.4 victory. It was one-half length back in second to race-favorite Kenneth J and third-place finisher Charley Barley. Island Delight, who finished fourth, also advanced to the final.

"We drew a good position tonight and he was very good in his last start," said driver Rick Zeron. "He was flying in the last eighth of the mile in his last start. I knew how good this horse was. He showed last week that he could dig in when I asked him. He has the ability and he hasn't been beat up this year."

Deena Frost, Sampson Street Stables, Fox Hollow Farm and T L P Stable share ownership on the rookie, who is 4-for-9 this year with earnings of $53,556.

Artzina was the beneficiary of a second-over trip in the third elimination, and driver John Campbell made sure to capitalize on the golden trip.

The Dylan Davis trainee smoked home in :26.4 to post the win over runner-up Running Book and third-place finisher Southwind Lynx.

"I liked seeing him covered up tonight, I know he usually fires pretty good off cover," said trainer Dylan Davis. "He wasn't quite himself in the final of the Metro, so we gave him a bit of break and it really helped. He'll get some easy training in the middle of the week leading up to the final."

Kal Liebowitz of California and Mark Rubach of New Jersey watched the career winner of $291,941 improve his rookie record to 5-0-2 in eight starts.

The top three finishers and the richest fourth place finisher (based on season earnings in U.S. dollars) advance to the final.

The trio of elimination winners earned the privilege to pick their posts. Here's the field for the final: Running Book, Sutter Hanover, Artzina, Olay Olay, Charley Barley, Kenneth J, Island Delight, Spin Rate, Southwind Lynx and Laughing Art. (WEG)

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