Bastiano ($3.50) lived up to odds-on billing in his return to Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening (Aug. 7), sustaining a first-over bid in taking the $8,800 featured conditioned trot.

With Pukka (Maggie Jones) breaking at the start, Majestic Brayden (Dagfin Henriksen) was able to achieve the early lead easily while Liam Needsome (J Harris) was seated in the pocket. Alfie Carroll floated Bastiano from the far outside post 6 into a three-hole tuck through a :28.1 first quarter before angling the four-year-old Angus Hall gelding off the pegs with nine-sixteenths to go. Following a backed down :59 half, Bastiano advanced to force the hand of Majestic Brayden up the far side.

Bastiano and Majestic Brayden dueled through the final turn while tracked by Liam Needsome, who angled three-wide with three-sixteenths to go. Bastiano struck the front between foes with 150 yards remaining, and successfully staved off the strong outside rally of Liam Needsome to win by a neck in 1:57.1. Majestic Brayden checked in third.

Benoit Baillargeon trains 11-time winner Bastiano for Eric Gnocchini, Paul Lavigne and Gestion Marc Lemay Inc. The featured win capped a hat trick for Carroll on the nine-race card.

To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.