Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Champion reinsman Chris Lewis went out to contest the 2130m Retravision For All The Electrical Stuff You Love Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night full of confidence that Goodfellaz would set the pace and win.
Goodfellaz, a talented frontrunner in excellent form for trainer Debra Lewis, was a hot $1.20 favourite from the No. 1 barrier, with his stablemate Hampton Banner an $11 chance from the No. 2 barrier.
Surprisingly, Goodfellaz was beaten for early pace by Hampton Banner, who covered the lead time in a solid 36.6sec. before dashing over the first three quarter of the final mile in 29.7sec., 28.9sec. and 28.6sec., with $101 outsider Eldaytona in the breeze.
Eventually, Eldaytona began to weaken, enabling Lewis to ease Goodfellaz off the inside with 220m to travel. Goodfellaz then forged to the front 100m later and won by two lengths from the $8 second favourite Dalvey Robyn, who finished solidly after racing three back on the pegs. Hampton Banner was third.
“I thought we would be leading,” admitted Lewis. “But Jocelyn (Young) got Hampton banner out very quick. So, we ended up having a sit, and it all worked out in the end.”
Goodfellaz looks certain to race competitively in Free-For-All company. He has earned $173,925 from 14 wins and 13 placings from 39 starts.