Off the 3-5 favourite, Kays Shadow shot to the front and maintained command all through the mile to post a 1:58.3 victory in taking the second of two second-preliminary divisions of the $10,000 Pop-Up Series at Flamboro Downs on Saturday (Jan. 22).
Driver Nick Boyd sent the nine-year-old Shadow Play mare to the top from post five and opened two lengths on Georgia January to a :29 first quarter. And once on the point, the James Dean trainee faced nary a worry, strolling to a :59.2 half and to three-quarters in 1:28.4 before striding home a 1-1/4-length winner over Sheplaysforkeeps, who overtook Georgia January for second. Innocent Kiss finished fourth.
A winner of 23 races from 159 starts, Kays Shadow has earned $237,019. Dean owns the mare, who paid $3.30 to win.
Release The Baby and trainer-driver Ross Battin snagged the other division of the Pop-Up Series, going a coast-to-coast mile to win in 1:59.3.
Also leaving from post five, Battin landed Release The Baby on the lead to a :30 first quarter and continued in control while withstanding first-over pressure from favourite Cayo Loco through a 1:00.2 half an three-quarters in 1:29.1. Cayo Loco’s bid fell short off the corner as she faded to third while Release The Baby rolled to a 1-3/4-length win over pocket-sitter Bluewater Beach. E L Citadel took fourth.
Owned by Carter and Caleb Wright, Release The Baby won her 12th race from 101 starts, pushing her earnings to $92,162. She paid $10.60 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.