by Ashley Mayotte, WEG communications

Toronto, ON — Real Infusion and driver Scott Zeron pulled off a 39-1 shocker in the opening leg of the Youthful Pacing Series on Monday evening (March 19) at Woodbine.

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Real Infusion was a narrow winner in a division of the Youthful Series on Monday at Woodbine.

In his C$20,000 division, the Randy Van Meer pupil got under the wire in a career-best performance of 1:51.4, while visiting the winner’s circle for the first time as a 3-year-old.

Take A Walk (Jack Moiseyev) cleared to the front as he passed the first quarter in :26.4 and remained the leader through splits of :55.3 and 1:23.3.

When the post 10 starter made a costly miscue in the stretch, Tye Seelster (Jody Jamieson) briefly inherited the lead. Real Infusion was able to find open racetrack and late speed to nip Tye Seelster by a head at the wire. Creighton Hanover (Billy Davis, Jr.) finished third.

“Last week when I drove the horse, he broke his front hopple hanger and I had to pull him up just because of that,” explained Zeron. “He felt great last week. This week, he felt great the whole way. Down the lane I was just praying we would find room, not in the way that we go it. When Jack’s (Moiseyev) horse made a break and got out of the way, things just unravelled perfectly for him (Real Infusion).

The homebred son of Real Desire-Cosmic Express picked up his third win in 12 career starts, which increased his lifetime earnings to $37,388 for owner-breeder Harry Locke. Real Infusion paid $80.80 to win.

Zeron returned to victory lane with the 8-5 favorite I’m The Pied Piper in the final tilt. The Tony O’Sullivan trainee lowered his lifetime-best to 1:52 in the process.

The son of Western Ideal-Lisjune sat behind fractions of :27.1 clocked by The Dragon (Sylvain Filion) and :56.2 and 1:24.4 cut by Twin B Hollister (Billy Davis, Jr.).

I’m The Pied Piper, who was sixth at the three-quarter marker, used a quick :26.2 final quarter to get under the wire, three-quarters of a length over Aahm A Gesture. Private Equity (Anthony MacDonald) finished third.

“For as fast as he is and can flip gears like no other horse, he is the smallest horse I have ever sat behind,” said Zeron. “He is like Doonbeg. It’s crazy the things that he (I’m The Pied Piper) can do. Tonight I tried a different tactic. I took him off the gate. I wanted to see how he would respond to that. We know how talented he is, we just have to see how versatile he is and tonight he showed that. Last week he showed he could leave out of there and tonight he showed he could come from off the pace. I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do.”

The 3-year-old colt, who was unraced at two, picked up his second win in five career outings, which increased his lifetime earnings to $24,627 for owners Richard and Joanne Young. I’m The Pied Piper returned $5.40 to win.

In another division, Piston Broke took full advantage of a textbook pocket trip. In a mild 9-2 upset, the Rob Fellows trainee notched his third triumph of the season in nine starts, while lowering his lifetime mark to 1:50.3.

Piston Broke and driver Sylvain Filion clocked the opening quarter in :26.3 before a parked-out Racing Rocky (Jody Jamieson) was taken to the front. The 1-5 favorite held command past fractions of :55.2 and 1:24.

At the top of the stretch, the gelded son of Shark Gesture-Rebid was angled from the two hole to challenge Racing Rocky. The pair dueled, but Piston Broke was able to pace on by to score the victory by three-quarters of a length. Beach Buff (Anthony MacDonald) finished third.

“When I saw the program I knew that horse of Jody’s (Racing Rocky) was the horse to beat,” said Filion. “I was hoping I could follow him as long as I could and that was exactly what happened. I was lucky enough to have that trip and he (Piston Broke) went by him. I wasn’t sure he was going to, but he did a good job. He was real strong at the wire. I never even popped out the (ear) plugs so it looks good for next week.”

Piston Broke picked up his fifth win in 17 career outings, which increased his bankroll to $71,654 for Fellows, who co-owns the black gelding with Willard Sabrosky and Arpad Szabo. The sophomore paid $11.50 to win.

The C$30,000 second leg, for 3-year-old pacers in 2012, who were non-winners of three races or C$15,000 in 2011, is slated for Thursday (March 29), with the C$50,000 final scheduled for Saturday (April 7).

Live Standardbred racing returns to the Toronto oval Thursday evening with the second leg of the General Brock Trotting Series. First race post time is 7:10 p.m.