Off the heels of a dominant four and a half-length win in his first-round Autumn Series split last week, Sportsline ($2.40) did it again on Wednesday night (Oct. 10) at Flamboro Downs, this time with a 1:55.4 mile capped by a :27.3 last quarter in the first of three $8,500 second-round Autumn Series divisions.
Sent off the fives-on favourite in the first split (race one), Sportsline strode to the lead from post 4 under Robert Doyle and rated splits of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28.1 while unchallenged. The two-year-old Sportswriter-Angel In Disguise colt started to edge clear off the home turn, accelerating away to beat pocket rival Stonebridge Grand (J Harris) by 2-1/4 lengths. Life Is Better (Scott Coulter) checked in another six lengths back in third.
Trainer James Watt owns Sportsline, who now has won six of his eight races to date.
The second division (race five) saw Larjon Lucky ($13.30) and Brett MacDonald control the terms throughout and parry a late threat from the first-over Dreamfair Charro (Colin Kelly) in 1:57.1. Roczen Hanover (Paul MacKenzie) chased from the pocket to finish a narrowly beaten third.
Gregg McNair trains the juvenile Betterthancheddar-Low Country Love gelding for Larry Lane. Larjon Lucky's second career win knocked four seconds off his lifetime mark.
In the final division (race nine), Scott Wray used a clear pocket trip with Stonebridge Guard ($9.80) to upend favoured pacesetter Jay Eye Em (Travis Cullen) in 1:56.1. After leaving from post 6 to land behind Jay Eye Em and stalking splits of :28.3, :59 and 1:27.1, Stonebridge Guard found his best strides in the final eighth, reeling in Jay Eye Em by half a length in 1:56.1 for his eighth career win. Mancino (Kelly) lifted mildly to take third.
Trainer Jack Wray co-owns the victorious Shadow Play sophomore with Douglas Dunbar and Frederick Woolford.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Flamboro Downs.