Towards the tail of 2018 a fire at First Line Training Centre took the life of five horses from Mark Steacy’s barn and displaced 28 to Woodbine Mohawk Park. Since then Shawn Steacy has assumed the helm of his father’s operation and, on Saturday (Jan. 4), steered one of his stable’s survivors to victory at Flamboro Downs.
Ahi, who did not race as a three-year-old, returned to the track off a 15-month layoff. Steacy sat behind the four-year-old son of Sportswriter left from post 7 to trail the field by 11 lengths to a :28 first quarter. He continued to sit last as Last Three held a loose lead through middle fractions of :57.4 and 1:27.3 but began to roll around the final turn.
Turning into the stretch Ahi charged widest for the front with first-over Perfect Rolo and second-over Ohare Hanover also lunging late. Ahi hit the lead nearing the finish and held on to win by three-quarter lengths over Ohare Hanover in second and Perfect Rolo in third.
Owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., Ahi won his second race from nine starts, earning $16,572. He paid $15.10 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.