April Rose brought her ‘A’ game to Flamboro Downs on Thursday evening for Team Hensley, and as a result she front-stepped to an eye-catching victory in the featured $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap for trotters.
Co-owner/trainer Ed Hensley wasted no time with April Rose, who sprinted to the lead from Post 4 and had the field chasing her past the quarter pole in :27.3. She continued to lead the way through middle panels of :57.2 and 1:26.4, and her :29.4 closing speed was enough to earn her the win by 2-1/2 lengths over Vesuvio Bi in 1:56.3. Willyorwonthe was third.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the seven-year-old daughter of SJs Caviar-Show Me The Bling nabbed her 28th lifetime win for trainer/co-owner Ashleigh Hensley. She’s banked over $360,000 to date.
Majestic Brayden captured the $8,500 Preferred 3 for trotters for trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen.
The gelding sat a three-hole trip for the first half while Hldontghttoyurdrms carved out the first two splits of :28.2 and :58.4. Henriksen had Majestic Brayden on the move in the backstretch, and they took over the lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:29. A :29.4 final frame earned Majestic Brayden the win by two lengths over Warrawee Shipshape in 1:58.4. Taking home the show dough was Azucar.
Steve Murphy and Gary Volpe share ownership on the five-year-old son of Majestic Son-Keystone Stephanie, who lifted his lifetime earnings to $84,846 with the victory.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Flamboro Downs.