Milton, ON — Horseplayers experienced an eventful ride from start to finish on Thursday evening (Dec. 10) at Woodbine Mohawk Park thanks to big upsets and the Pick-5 wager.

The Early Pick-5 started the evening in its usual slot of race one and set the tone for a night of upsets and big payouts that hooked horseplayers for the duration of the 10-race card.

After a pair of mild upsets and a 5-2 shot came through in the first three races on the card, claiming pacer Mossies Art and driver Jonathan Drury threw the night for a spin by scoring an 86-1 upset victory.

After the shocking upset, just 40 cents in “live money” remained in the Pick-5 with one leg to go. The remaining money sat on 4-5 favorite Leader Tonight, who with a victory would allow the only two tickets left to cash for $49,000 each. The race favorite was parked every step and finished fifth by a length, as Mission Three won at 13-1.

With no five of five winning tickets, a carryover of $98,641.20 from the Early Pick-5 was brought to the Late Pick-5.

Word spread quickly of the big carryover and horseplayers wagered $227,741 in “new money” on the Late Pick-5.

The Late Pick-5 started with a 2-1 winner, but then followed the trend of the evening with a 30-1 upset by claiming pacer Unprecedented and driver James MacDonald. The back and forth game continued with a 3-1 winner in the third leg followed by a 16-1 winner in the fourth leg.

The final race saw live tickets on seven of the 10 horses, meaning either a huge payout or double carryover. Giddy Up Max and driver Sylvain Filion were sent off at odds of 3-1 and crushed their rivals by several lengths to cap off the Late Pick-5, which returned $82,084.70 for a 20-cent winning ticket.

Woodbine Entertainment recently received approval from the CPMA to offer a carryover on the Pick-5 should there be no five of five winning tickets. CPMA rules require the carryover to be offered on the next available Pick-5 wager.

Another significant payout on Thursday’s card was the Early Pick-4, which returned $31,779.97 for a 20-cent ticket. The Early Pick-4 was caught in the middle of the Early and Late Pick-5.

Filion led the way for drivers on Thursday’s card, posting a three-win evening. Drury was the only other driver to score multiple wins on the card with two. Richard Moreau was the only trainer to score a pair of wins on the card.

Live racing continues Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Friday’s feature is leg one of the Valedictory Series for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The 11-race card starts with the $100,000 Early Pick-5 in race one. Post time is 7 p.m.