The team of trainer Rachel Andrew and driver Travis Cullen paired for a wire-to-wire 1:52.1 victory in the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Cullen cleared command with the eight-year-old Mach Three gelding heading to a :27.2 opening quarter and faced little challenge. He gradually expanded his lead through a :56.1 half and three-quarters in 1:24.1 in progress to a two-and-a-half length victory over Pro Beach closing for second. Race-favourite Pretty Handsome rallied from third over for third.
Owned by Cullen and Andrew, Brodys Scrapper won his seventh race from 26 starts this season and his 27th from 134 overall, earning $208,881. He paid $5.20 to win.
Cullen and Andrew also scored in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace off a pocket trip with Jay Eye Em in a 1:53.3 mile.
Odds-on favourite American Wiggle flew to the front while Jay Eye Em drafted through fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.2. Toot Toot N attempted to mount a first-over bid up the backstretch on circuit two but promptly faltered rounding the final turn. Jay Eye Em applied the lone challenge to American Wiggle in the stretch as the three-year-old Big Jim gelding surged to a three-quarter length victory while Par Intended finished five lengths farther behind in third.
Also owned by Cullen and Andrew, Jay Eye Em won his fifth race from 21 starts this season and his ninth from 36 overall, earning $67,731. He paid $6.10 to win.
Katch Kanna also rode pocket when taking the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot.
With 3-2 favourite Its Huw You Know breaking stride at the start, Heineken Seelster secured an uncontested lead to a :28.1 first quarter while Katch Kanna—starting from the second tier—tracked from second. Heineken Seelster continued on the lead through a :58.3 half but faced pressure up the backstretch as Glider Man ranged first over towards three-quarters in 1:28. But Glider Man faded around the final turn and Katch Kanna kicked from the pocket through the stretch to win by a length in 1:58.3. Splurge On Me, recovering from a break at the start, rebounded for third.
A six-year-old gelding by Lucky Chucky, Katch Kanna won his sixth race from 32 starts this season and his 19th from 104 overall, earning $163,500. Tyler Moore drove the $9.30 winner for trainer Jacques Dupont and owner Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.