Western Shore upsets at Chester

With Real Joke making his second start off a layoff and finishing a narrow second to Annieswesterncard in last week's $32,000 Open Pace at Harrah's Chester, he was thought by most the horse to beat, dismissed at 9-5 favoritism. However, he couldn't wear down John Cancelliere's Western Shore ($25.60), who prevailed in a pillar-to-post performance in the Sunday afternoon Open Handicap Pace.

 

David Miller sent the 7-year-old Western Hanover entire right to the front, clearing Lisagain (Andy Miller) and last week's winner Annieswesterncard (Ron Pierce) en route to a :26.2 first quarter. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, Western Shore faced pressure in the form of the first-over Real Joke (George Napolitano), enduring middle fractions of :53.4 and 1:21.2 over sloppy going.

 

After Real Joke flattened moving into the far turn, Western Shore gained a bit of breathing room on Lisagain, but had to brace for the late challenge of Annieswesterncard at headstretch. All out in the final yards, Western Shore prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths over Annieswesterncard in 1:49.4, with Atochia (Yannick Gingras) finishing an off-the-pace third. (Harrah's Chester(