Trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen was put to work on his birthday, but chances are you won’t hear him complaining considering he captured Thursday’s $8,500 Preferred 3 for trotters at Flamboro Downs.

Majestic Brayden was his ticket to victory lane in the featured affair, and the gelding summoned up just enough closing speed to post the 1:58.2 victory with the birthday boy in tow.

Henriksen found his charge a three-hole position off the gate, and they held down that spot while Smoke Monkey and Legend Within battled tooth and nail through fractions of :28.3, :57 and 1:26.4. Henriksen got clearance in the late stages of the mile and Majestic Brayden closed home in :31.2 to win by three-quarters of a length over odds-on favourite Vesuvio Bi, who recovered from an early miscue to be a solid runner-up. Hldontghttoyurdrms was third.

Sent off at odds of 7-1, Majestic Brayden improved this year’s record to 2-1-1 from 5 attempts while pushing his lifetime earnings past $90,000. The five-year-old son of Majestic Son-Keystone Stephanie is owned by Steve Murphy and Gary Volpe.

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