Ideal Perception romped in the $10,000 Horses and Geldings Preferred Pace on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Flamboro Downs in a victory by 8-1/2 lengths, reversing his defeat by the same margin four days ago.

The veteran stallion put his eight opponents behind him heading into the first turn and was never troubled as he dictated the tempo through :27, :56.1, and 1:24 fractions. Anthony Haughan unleashed Ideal Perception heading for the far turn, and the 17-1 longshot streaked away to a 1:52.3 blowout over a track rated good. Century Inspector (J.R. Plante) was second-best, legging it out for second after a long uncovered move. Granite Beach (Travis Cullen) finished third.

Ideal Perception rung up his seventh victory of the year in 26 starts for trainer Tony Beaton and owner Lisa Lefort of Waterdown, Ont. The son of American Ideal-Southwind Siren upped his lifetime totals to 40 wins and $462,304 in bankroll from 179 appearances. He paid $37.40 to win.

The card also featured a pair of $8,500 Autumn Series second-leg divisions for two- and three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

In the first split, Wills Watchin blew the first turn and dropped back to last in the five-horse group as Mario Baillargeon worked to steady the gelding through a :28.2 first panel. He then fired out as the field turned towards the grandstand and took over before the half in :59.1, carved out three-quarters in 1:28.4, and battled off Moment Tom (Daryl Thiessen) on the last turn before marching home a 1-3/4-length winner in a career-best 1:58.1. Night Wash (Nick Boyd) finished second off a pocket ride, while Yougetwhatyougive (Dale Spence) charged late for third.

Wills Watchin, owned and trained by Bill McClure of Brampton, Ont., has compiled a record of three wins in 11 starts since his debut earlier this year. The three-year-old son of Hes Watching-Joys Blazingsevens has earned $15,940. His win price was $2.70.

Stroker was much the best in the second division as he wired the field for trainer-driver Gary Rivest. The gelding pushed forward from the pylon post to assume command entering the opening turn, went unchallenged through :28.4 and :58.3 early fractions, and he rebuffed 1-9 favourite Im Victor (Cullen) to take a three-length lead at three-quarters in 1:26.2. The choice was unable to mount another attack, and Stroker cruised home to prevail by 3-1/2 lengths in a new mark of 1:56. Im Victor finished second, and Bet I Will (Austin Sorrie) was third.

Stroker tallied his second win in five starts for Rivest, who co-owns the three-year-old with Ashley and Matthew Rivest-Bochenek, all of Waterdown. The son of Panther Hanover-Ringing Ofthebell has earned $9,935. His backers received $15.10 to win.

The Autumn Series is for Ontario-sired two- and three-year-olds that are non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of Sept. 30. The series for pacing males, labelled Event B, will conclude with its final on Oct. 26.

To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Ideal Perception winning on June 9)