Not even a tough trip could keep trotting gelding Euro Classic from finding the winner’s circle in Wednesday’s $11,000 Preferred 2 at Flamboro Downs.
Per Henriksen and Euro Classic came first-over against even-money favourite Thundering Ovation, who led the field through fractions of :28.3, :59.4 and 1:30.1, and eventually wore down that foe in the closing strides. Euro Classic prevailed by a neck over Thundering Ovation in 1:59, with Keystone Orion rounding out the top three.
Sent off at odds of 7-2, Euro Classic won for the 19th time in his career while pushing his lifetime earnings to $137,066. The six-year-old son of Chocolatier-Donven Fury is owned by the Larsens - Ann Karin, Tor Jan and Odd Larsen.
Noartographsplease did all the road work, but Rachel Olivia got all the marbles in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Pace earlier on the Wednesday evening program. Noartographsplease chopped out panels of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.2 before getting picked off in the final strides by the pocket-sitting Rachel Olivia and driver Alfie Carroll. Rachel Olivia won by a head over Noartographsplease in 1:56.4. Third prize went to Insincerity.
Daryl Roberts bred and trains the five-year-old daughter of Western Maverick-Julo for Rasa Roberts of London, Ontario. The 21-time winner has stashed away in excess of $122,000 to date.
Heres The Magic was a wire-to-wire winner in the $7,000 Preferred 3 for trotters. Jody Jamieson hustled the Victor Puddy pupil to the lead and knifed out splits of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:28.1 before using a :30-second closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:58.1. Out Of The Hat was three-quarters of a length in arrears, with Osprey Vision rounding out the top three finishers.
The five-year-old son of Kadabra-Blackberry Hanover pushed his career earnings to the $275,686 with the victory. The seven-time winner is owned by Keith Cassell of Smiths Falls, Ontario.
To view results for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Flamboro Downs.