Sunshine Boy held off Rum N Custard in a photo finish to win the first Preferred of The Track On 2's 2026 season during the mid-March card on Sunday afternoon.

With the inside post advantage in a short field for the $5,600 Preferred 2, Sunshine Boy and driver Phil Giesbrecht established the lead while the favoured outside leaver, Rum N Custard, secured the pocket trip in rein to Kelly Hoerdt. Sunshine Boy proceeded to carve out fractions of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:28.2 over the "good" track before holding off Rum N Custard, who had drafted behind the 1:57 winner down the lane before launching off the helmet in deep stretch and missing by just a neck. Blue Star Mercury and Mike Hennessy overtook track record holder Kioto, driven by Drew Campbell, for third.

Sunshine Boy paid $5.30 to win and $3.20 to place as the 8-5 second choice in the field reduced to four with no show wagering as Itll Be Fine was scratched sick.

Justin Currie trains the eight-year-old gelding, who made his first start off a six-week layoff a winning one and improved to two-for-six this year for British Columbia owners J J J Stables of North Vancouver and Paul Sanders of Surrey. Sunshine Boy, a son of Sunshine Beach out of Betterfrombehind, now boasts 38 career wins and earnings totalling $363,061.

Live harness racing continues at the central Alberta one-mile oval in Lacombe on Saturdays and Sundays in March, with post time at 1:10 p.m. MDT.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Track On 2.

(Standardbred Canada)