The snowy surface was no issue for Vesuvio Bi, who kicked home to pick off pacesetting Stormont Kate en route to victory in Thursday's $11,500 Preferred 2 & 3 Handicap Trot at Flamboro Downs.

A robust field of nine was reduced to just five horses with four scratches due to weather. Favoured from post four after being shifted in on the gate, Vesuvio Bi was settled into fourth by driver Travis Henry as second choice Stormont Kate (Bruce Richardson) carved out first-half splits of :29.4 and :59.2. Henry launched Vesuvio Bi into the outer flow down the backstretch and made it to within two lengths of the front-striding Stormont Kate by the 1:29.1 third panel.

The gap between pacesetter and challenger continued to diminish with each stride approaching the wire but it wasn't until the last handful that Vesuvio Bi could stick his nose in front. As the trotters passed under the wire, Vesuvio Bi bested Stormont Kate by a head with the mile timed in 1:58. Lets Leavem (J Harris) rounded out the top three.

Owned by Lachance Racing Stable of Millstone Township, N.J. and Dan Mogridge of Hillsdale, Ont., Vesuvio Bi (Manofmanymissions - Palm Beach Bi) picked up his eighth win of the year with the winner's share of the purse lifting his earnings to $56,981.

To view the charts for Thursday's card of harness racing at Flamboro, click the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.