After annihilating her Preferred 2 foes last week by nine lengths, Buttermilk Hanover ($3.00) shrugged off an assigned post-eight dispatch and circled from fourth-over for a second consecutive triumph in Sunday’s (October 22) $10,500 Preferred 2 for fillies and mares at Flamboro Downs.
The four-year-old Badlands Hanover mare vied for position in mid-division at race’s outset, but was forced to retreat to sixth on the first turn while Mach Magic (Scott Young) assumed the pacesetting duties through a strong :27.2 first quarter. Buttermilk Hanover angled fourth-over with five-eighths to go, but remained six lengths off a :56.3 half and trapped behind stagnant and excess cover before Robert Shepherd pointed her three-wide with three-eighths to go. She circled foes boldly up the far side, overpowered Mach Magic above the eighth pole, and drew off smartly to win by three lengths. Regal Luck (Paul MacKenzie), whose first-over bid was eclipsed by the eventual winner midway on the far turn, stayed on to take second over Mach Magic.
Buttermilk Hanover earned her seventh win of the season and the ninth of her career for trainer Rod Boyd and owners 8113564 Canada, Ltd. and Todd Beelby.
Shepherd and Boyd came back to capture the sub-featured $8,500 Preferred 3 pacing event with The Roadies ($12.20) in 1:55 by way of a pocket trip behind Senior Market (Mike Whelan) through splits of :28.3, :58.3, and 1:27. Nearing the eighth pole, Shepherd angled the four-year-old World Of Rocknroll gelding off the pegs to engage Senior Market, and dueled to prevail by half a length. Redonkulous (Travis Cullen) made a late push up the open stretch to just reach second over a gamely defeated Senior Market.
The Roadies, a Robert Key homebred, earned his 11th career win.
Patrick Shepherd notched a natural training hat trick, sending Confident Fella ($3.10, Bob McClure, 1:57.1), L Dees Luca ($5.00, McClure, 1:58.1), and Fiftyshadesofbay ($3.30, Robert Shepherd, 1:55.2) to victorious performances in the night’s sixth, seventh, and eighth races.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Flamboro Downs.