If your harness didn’t hang in the barn of trainer Carmen Auciello, then you were racing for minor shares in Sunday’s $11,000 Preferred 2 for horse and gelding pacers at Flamboro Downs.
Auciello sent out the top two finishers in the featured tilt, with Thorn In Your Side getting the better of stablemate Sportsmanship in the nine-horse affair.
Travis Henry hustled Thorn In Your Side to the lead from Post 3, and they hit the quarter pole in :28.1. Stablemate Sportsmanship made a first-over charge in front of the grandstand, and he showed a short lead at the half in :57.2 while still racing on the rim. Thorn In Your Side regained command going into the clubhouse turn, and he sped past the three-quarter marker in 1:25.4 before using a :29.4 final frame to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Sportsmanship in 1:55.3. Lisvinnie grabbed the show dough.
Sent off as the 2-1 favourite, the six-year-old son of Mach Three-Pan Hanover improved this year’s record to 6-5-4 from 34 starts with the win. The 24-time winner has banked close to $280,000. He’s owned by High Stakes Stable Inc of Farmington Hills, MI.
Champagne Phil looked like he was well on his way to breaking out the bubbly in Sunday’s $7,500 Preferred 3 for pacers at Flamboro Downs, but Windsong Leo rallied late and rained on the favourite’s parade.
Windsong Leo left alertly from the rail and landed in the pocket behind Champagne Phil who wound up laying down the speed. Fractions of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.2 flashed up on the teletimer compliments of Champagne Phil, but the final quarter belonged to Windsong Leo. Trainer/driver Danny O’Brian revved up the pacer’s engine, and the gelding kicked home in :28.3 to win by a neck over Champagne Phil in 1:54.4. Blue Chip Sunshine came on strong from far back to finish third.
Everette Hanson of Maugerville, NB owns the four-year-old son of Jeremes Jet-Windsong Goldie who recently surpassed $100,000 in lifetime earnings. It was his third win of the campaign and the 10th of his career.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Flamboro Downs.