Allies Gift and I Want Kandy prevailed in their respective Thursday night Preferred events at Flamboro Downs, but that was the only thing they had in common.
One was a popular winner, and the other was of the longshot variety. One used front-end tactics, while the other raced from out of the clouds.
It was a coast-to-coast score in the $7,500 Preferred 3 for Allies Gift, who was sent off as the 3-2 favourite in her assignment. Robert Shepherd rolled her to the top from Post 4 and together they led the field through fractions of :29, 1:00 and 1:29.3 before using a :30.2 closing quarter to win by 5-3/4 lengths over Giona in 2:00. Excellence took home third prize in the eight-horse affair.
J.F. Maguire trains the five-year-old daughter of Holiday Road-Minor Skirmish for Michel Gaboury of Venise-En-Quebec, QC. The mare is a 14-time winner that has banked just over $100,000 to date.
I Want Kandy got away seventh in her $7,500 Preferred 3 tilt, but a big kick in the back half helped propel her to an 18-1 upset with Nick Steward in tow. Waikiki Hanover laid down fractions of :29.3, :59 and 1:28.2, but the wheels started to wobble on that leader and in the process it left the door wide-open for the backfield. I Want Kandy stormed past five foes in the closing quarter and won by three-quarters of a length over odds-on favourite Kennel Buddy in 2:00.3. Waikiki Hanover held on to finish third.
Anthony Montini trains the four-year-old daughter of Angus Hall-Celebrity Kandy for Albina Montini, Paul Giamichele, Vincent Albanese and Kwong Sum Low. The nine-time winner is now just shy of $80,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Flamboro Downs.