After having not competed in a charted race since mid-July of last year, three-time O'Brien Award winning driver Chris Christoforou put everyone on notice this afternoon at Flamboro Downs that he is back

.

In what was his only drive on the card, the 38-year-old resident of Campbellville, Ont. steered seven-year-old Angus Hall mare Carrie Thru in Race 5.

Not backing down from a disadvantaged nine-hole start, Christoforou got away third in the early going and was gunning for the lead in the second quarter of the dash.

Christoforou and his mount settled to the lead in the third quarter and opened up daylight between them and their rivals. The pair cruised from there for trainer Sandra Houghton, as they went on to record a two and a quarter length victory in 1:58.4.

Having been sent off at odds of 11-1, Christoforou and Carrie Thru returned $24.00, $11.80, $4.50 across-the-board prices, topped a $165.10 exactor and triggered a $827.10 triactor.

To view the charted harness racing results from the afternoon card of racing at Flamboro, click here.

Christoforou is slated to drive in six races tonight at Woodbine Racetrack. First-race post time is 7:30 p.m. Click here to view the entries.

Late last week, Christoforou told Trot Insider that he was returning to racing after having taken time away from the sport to deal with personal issues.

Christoforou, one of the Country's most decorated harness drivers, has won more than 5,300 races in his career. Over the course of his career, Christoforou has steered his mounts to more than $84 million in purse earnings.

Christoforou is going to expand on some of the issues he has recently faced in an exclusive feature article in the upcoming March 2010 issue of Trot Magazine.