In a pair of close calls, trotter Kashs Caviar and pacing mare Andro Madi captured the co-featured Preferred events on Wednesday's harness racing card at Flamboro Downs.
Driver Robert Shepherd sent Kashs Caviar to the lead from post six in the $7,000 Preferred 3 Trot and carved out fractions of :29.4, 1:00.4 and 1:31 before holding off the pocket-sitting Out Of The Hat (J.R. Plante) to win by a nose in 2:03.1. Closing from the backfield, longshot Tornado Tim (Daniel O'Brian) finished one and a quarter lengths behind in third.
The track was listed as 'good' with a two second variant and the temperature a chilly -14 degrees.
Sent postward as the 5-2 second choice to Out Of The Hat, Kashs Caviar paid $7.40 to win.
The seven-year-old son of SJs Caviar earned his second win in four starts since being claimed by trainer Craig Yates of Paris, Ont. and Marilyn Horner of Aurora, Ont. for $15,000 on Dec. 19 at Woodbine Racetrack. Wednesday's win was his 18th lifetime and lifted his earnings to $417,122.
In the Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace, Andro Madi prevailed off a pocket trip while making her first start for new connections, trainer Patrick Shepherd and owner Jonah Moase of Cornwall, P.E.I.
Favourite Mamasaids (Alfie Carroll) had the inside post advantage and led the field through intervals of :27.4, :58 and 1:27 with Posey Tina (Robert Shepherd) challenging. Those two eventually finished third in a dead-heat, just half a length behind the winner. When the field turned for home, J.R. Plante sent Andro Madi up the passing lane and she prevailed by a nose in 1:58.2 over longshot Stryking Dove (Bruce Richardson), who rallied home from second over.
Andro Madi paid $7 to win as the 5-2 second choice.
The six-year-old Shanghai Phil mare, who has 21 career wins and earnings just shy of the $100,000 mark, was claimed by Moase on Jan. 21 at Western Fair Raceway for $10,000.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Flamboro Downs.