Swooping off cover into the stretch, Ufdragons Rocket roared wide of rivals to get a neck up on the wire and take the $11,500 Preferred 2 Pace at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, Jan. 13 while giving driver Louis-Philippe Roy a sweep of the features.
Roy positioned the 10-year-old Dragon Again gelding seventh to a :28.2 opening quarter set by Toot Toot N taking the top from Doctor Royal. Stationary towards a :57.4 half, Ufdragons Rocket angled third over into the backstretch as Imsporty progressed first over to take a narrow advantage on the pacesetter passing three-quarters in 1:27.
Imsporty continued to hold a narrow lead on the favourite turning into the lane. Mr Mach Jimmy fanned off cover and edged towards the leaders with Ufdragons Rocket kicking wider. Mr Mach Jimmy took command late in the lane but failed to hold off Ufdragons Rocket as the Colin Johnson trainee hit the wire in front in 1:57. Imsporty finished a half length off the winner in third while Toot Toot N took fourth.
Owned by Francois Morin, Ufdragons Rocket won his 56th race from 262 starts, earning $432,073. He paid $17.90 to win.
Earlier in the card Roy guided Richard Moreau trainee Boomboom Ballykeel to a 1:56.4 wire-to-wire victory in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace. The eight-year-old Mach Three stallion led through fractions of :29.1 and :59.3 before being confronted by Avatartist heading to a 1:28.1 third quarter.
Avatartist continued to press the pacesetter circling the final turn but stalled in the stretch as Keep Coming kicked off cover and lunged towards the leader late. Boomboom Ballykeel took victory by a head on the wire while Keep Coming settled for second ahead of pocket-rider Senior Market in third.
Winning his 37th race from 189 starts, Boomboom Ballykeel competes for Ballykeel Racing and has amassed $918,656 in earnings. He paid $3.30 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.