After winter weather forced a cancellation on Thursday, Jan. 2, Flamboro Downs kicked off its 2025 season on Saturday, Jan. 4 with a nine-race card and trainer Francis Guillemette wasted little time getting to the winner's circle, sweeping the first two races.
After Our Max Phactor N (Scott Coulter, $8) took the lid-lifter for Guillemette, Arrakis immediately followed suit by securing his third straight victory in an $8,500 conditioned trotting affair for the conditioner.
Leaving from the rail as the even-money favourite, driver Austin Sorrie wasted little time grabbing command, trotting 1-1/2 lengths clear of the field to the quarter in a blistering :27.4. The pace slowed to the half in :59.1 before Arrakis and pocket-sitter Sicario (Samuel Fillion) trotted well clear of the rest to three-quarters in 1:28.3. Sicario took his shot at the top of the lane, but Arrakis rebuffed the challenge to trot 2-1/2 lengths clear to the wire in 1:58.4. Sicario was second and Frenchy Hanover (Paul MacKenzie) finished third.
Now 13, Arrakis has won 54 times in his career and is approaching three-quarters of a million dollars in earnings. Guillemette also owns the gelded son of Federal Flex-Kawartha An Worthy.
The 2025 Flamboro winter/spring season will race three days a week through May 31. Flamboro will race Thursdays and Saturdays with a first post time of 6:35 p.m., as well as Sundays with a first post of 6:55 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)