>Despite winning last week’s $11,000 Preferred 2 for horse and gelding pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District, Goldstar Badlands wasn’t given much respect in his quest to double up in Monday’s edition of the class.

In fact, he was sent off as the longest shot on the board, and the pari-mutuel snub apparently didn’t sit well with the Heather Toll trainee.

Goldstar Badlands got away sixth in the field of six, and he remained last until the field turned for home. Rise Up Now led the group through first-half fractions of :28.3 and :58, but Proven Desire worked first-over and showed a short lead while racing parked past that foe to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3.

Scott Young fired up wide for the drive with Goldstar Badlands, and the seven-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Rockin Lady used a :30-second final quarter to win by a neck over Daylight Rush in 1:58.1. Paparazzi Hanover took home third prize.

Sent off at odds of 13-1, Goldstar Badlands improved his 2017 record to five wins from eight starts. The 25-time winner pushed his lifetime earnings over $180,000 with the victory.

Race favourite ER Zach Attack was a wire-to-wire winner in the $7,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers.

Billy Davis, Jr. knifed out fractions of :29, :59 and 1:27.4 with the gelding who then used a :29.1 closing panel to seal the deal by 1-3/4 lengths over Good Friday Three in 1:57. Taking home the show dough was They Call Me Gordy.

Joe Cirasuola of Durand, Michigan owns and trains the seven-year-old son of Panspacificflight-Foxys Best who also doubled up over the London half-miler. It was the second win of the season and the 21st to date for the career winner of $213,436.