Privilege put forth a repeat performance in Pop-Up Series action at Flamboro Downs, romping in gate-to-wire fashion in the third of three $10,000 second-preliminary divisions on Sunday (Jan. 23).
Grabbing the lead to a :28.2 first quarter, Privilege quickly opened a margin on the competition, holding 3-1/2 lenghts on Mo Bettor to a :57.2 half and then six lengths to three-quarters in 1:28. With an eight-length advantage off the corner, driver Paul MacKenzie shut down the Clayton Miller trainee through the lane to stop the clock in 1:56.2 and finish 4-1/2 lengths better than Mo Bettor. Day Delight darted home for third and American Sniper took fourth.
A six-year-old gelding by Sunshine Beach, Privilege won his 14th race from 65 starts, pushing his earnings to $65,040. Natasha Miller owns the $3 winner.
No Better Joy also put in a front-stepping effort to take the first division as the odds-on choice in 1:58.1.
Parked past a :28.3 first quarter, No Better Joy took over the top from Perfect Rolo and soon braced for first-over pressure from Big Journey coming to a :59 half. Big Journey remained as No Bettor Joy’s side into the backside to three-quarters in 1:29, but the Nick Comegna trainee soon turned his first-over assailant away coming for home. Perfect Rolo mounted the final challenge at the leader through the lane, but No Better Joy kept a half length in front to win. UF Bettors Hanover finished third and Little Manny rallied for fourth.
Owned by Bruno Comegna, No Better Joy won his fourth race from 32 starts, pushing his earnings to $167,989. The four-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding paid $3.40 to win.
Amazon Dragon won the middle division with a first-over grind to down odds-on favourite Jack Of Clubs in 1:58.3.
Jack Of Clubs led the field to a :28.4 first quarter with R Thinking Monster sitting second. Amazon Dragon raced fourth before driver Jason Ryan angled the six-year-old Custard The Dragon gelding into the attack coming to a :58.1 half. Looming to within a length of the lead by three-quarters in 1:27.1, Amazon Dragon continued to bear unto Jack Of Clubs spinning for home. The favourite gave way through the stretch, though R Thinking Monster came motoring from the pocket heading to the beam, but Amazon Dragon held firm to the beam and won by a neck. Jack Of Clubs finished third and Caseys Dragon took fourth.
Trained by John Kennedy for owners Megan Card, Donald McDermid, Paul Woods and Rick Howie, Amazon Dragon won his ninth race from 78 starts, pushing his earnings to $70,825. He paid $17.20 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.