Hensleys Sweep Flamboro Preferreds
The Hensley team of trainer Ashleigh and driver Ed collected the Flamboro Downs featured events on Sunday, April 14 with April Rose winning the $12,700 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot and Toot Toot N taking the $12,700 Preferred 2 Pace.
April Rose's wire-to-wire score opened the card as the odds-on favourite, through fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:26.3, turned away a first-over bid from Majestic Kat to win in 1:57.3. Pocket-rider Willyorwonthe took second while Majestic Kat held third three lengths back. Ashleigh and Ed Hensley own the seven-year-old Sjs Caviar mare, who won her second race from 10 starts this season and her 29th from 143 overall. April Rose, paying $4.60 to win, has now earned $375,929.
Stablemate Toot Toot N later ground uncovered over a slow going and held off odds-on favourite Pretty Handsome to take the Preferred 2 Pace in 1:55.2.
The eight-year-old Gotta Go Cullen gelding sat fifth as Fashiononthebeach led Hes Got Swagger to a :27.3 opening quarter. As Hes Got Swagger popped pocket and circled to the lead, Hensley sent Toot Toot N first over and supplied cover to Pretty Handsome into a :56.4 half.
Hes Got Swagger held a half-length lead as Toot Toot N ranged closer through a 1:26 third quarter. Toot Toot N edged to the front turning into the stretch as Pretty Handsome fanned off cover and dug into the new leader. Toot Toot N held firm on the lead, finishing a head better than Pretty Handsome on the wire with Fashiononthebeach chasing in third.
Winning his third race from 12 starts this season and his 21st from 95 overall, Toot Toot N has earned $145,600. The Hensleys also own the $16.20 winner.
Between the evening features, Tero brushed to the lead moving toward the final turn and advanced to a 1:56.4 win in the $9,400 Preferred 3 Pace.
Favourite Fool Me Once set the pace as Dreamfair B J sat the pocket and Tero stalked from third. After splits of :28.4 and :58.4, driver Bob McClure tipped Tero off the rail and slid to the lead past a 1:28.1 third quarter. He extended his lead heading into the stretch and finished one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Fool Me Once in second while Oh K Man closed for third.
A seven-year-old gelding by Western Terror, Tero won his second race from 11 starts this season and his 19th from 170 overall, earning $160,040. David Frey trains the $6.00 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.