Western Fair: Evenin Of Pleasure pulls off Molson shocker

When racing on a half-mile track it all comes down to getting the right trip, and Evenin Of Pleasure did just that to score a 35-1 upset in the C$150,000 Molson Invitational Pace at Western Fair on Friday night.

Evenin Of Pleasure was fast off the gate but had to settle for the pocket behind Sunfire Blue Chip, who posted fractions of 26 3/5, 55 2/5 and 1:23 while cutting the pace.

Meanwhile, the outer tier never developed. Machtu N, who left for position in third, could not mount a first-over charge and that left second choice State Treasurer in a bad spot along with the favored All Bets Off following cover third on the rim.

There were three horses in contention at the head of the lane. Sunfire Blue Chip tried valiantly to hold on for the win with Evenin Of Pleasure taking aim to his outside and McWicked coming up the cones.

Ultimately, Evenin Of Pleasure would take advantage of the perfect trip and edge to the front right at the wire to best Sunfire Blue Chip and McWicked in a track record 1:50 3/5. All Bets Off rallied from an impossible spot to take home fourth.

“When I was able to get the two-hole, I was kind of hoping that Mark (MacDonald driving Sunfire Blue Chip) would keep going, which he did,” said winning driver Sylvain Filion.

“Last time he raced he came up really flat. They scoped him after the race and he was sick. You have to give credit to Richard (Moreau, trainer). He did some work on him and got him ready,” said Filion.

Evenin Of Pleasure paid $74.30 to win, his first score of the year for owner Gestion J Y Blais Inc.