Buttinski sustained a first-over grind to a career-best-tying victory in the $14,500 Preferred Trot on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Flamboro Downs.

The Mary Ratchford pupil looked to settle fourth from post two but gained a position as inside starter Jokic (Paul MacKenzie) ran on the first turn. Meanwhile at the front, R Royal Port (J Harris) legged it to command past Serenity Cruise (Jason Ryan) nearing the quarter in :28. Buttinski set out from third for Brady Galliers before the :58.2 midpoint and chipped down R Royal Port’s advantage to reach three-quarters in 1:28 while racing nose-to-nose. R Royal Port regained an edge rounding the final turn but tired late, and Buttinski overhauled him to win by a half-length in 1:57.1. Serenity Cruise finished third.

Buttinski has won back-to-back starts at Flamboro and is six-for-22 in his five-year-old campaign. Ratchford, of Caledonia, Ont., owns the son of Lookslikeachpndale-Dance Hall Wendy, who has won 13 of 66 career starts and earned $110,640. The win payout was $9.40.

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

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Buttinski winning on July 14, 2024)