The fifth edition of the Slots Cup Series wrapped up on Saturday night at Hiawatha Horse Park with driver Kevin Wallis sweeping the $100,000 final and the $15,000 consolation in a pair of close finishes.
The top nine money earners in the six preliminary legs of the series, which is sponsored by Racetracks of Ontario Marketing & Promotions (ROMP), advanced to the $100,000 final. The series is for three and four-year-old Ontario sired pacers that are non-winners of $50,000 life as of January 15, 2012.
Headlining the field for the final with three wins and a second in his only four series starts, Royal Outlook once again took top honours with a 1:53.2 front end effort even though he had only raced in a qualifier since the July 7th leg.
Wallis pulled the four-year-old son of Royal Mattjesty from the pocket after the sizzling :25.4 first quarter and swept to command ahead of Jetta Rama (Ryan Holliday). Royal Outlook carved out middle splits of :54.4 and 1:23.4 with a two length lead entering the stretch and held off Machs Beach Boy (Anthony Haughan) to win by a neck. Rustlin Cam (Robert Sparling Jr.) finished five and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
Royal Outlook paid $5.20 to win as the bettors' choice. Dan Creighton trains the bay gelding, who has put together a record reading 13-5-1 in 19 seasonal starts, for the Danterra Racing Stable of Strathroy, Ont. Royal Outlook's 2012 bankroll soared to $135,760.
In the consolation, Giddy Up Blackfly and Wallis advanced first up from fourth after the half-mile mark en route to a 1:54 score for trainer Joey Shea and owner David Shea of Campbellville, Ont. The three-year-old son of Whosurboy collared the popular pacesetter Life Signature (Nick Steward) at the wire while pocket-sitter Machal Angelo (Aaron Byron) finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in third. He paid $5.70 to win as the second choice.
In regular racing action, Pricevalleyrevitup delivered on his pari-mutuel promise in the $10,000 Preferred 2 Trot with a 1:58.4 winning effort for driver Chris Johnston and trainer Randy Marriage while the Joe Pereira-trainedBlackbird Singing and Aaron Byron pulled off an 18-1 upset in the matching Preferred 2 Pace with his 1:53.4 victory.