Flamboro Downs loaded its Sunday, Oct. 13 program with Preferred trotting and pacing events with the favourites finishing strongly in each.
Absolut Seelster opened the program with a wire-to-wire win in the $11,500 Preferred 2 Trot at odds of 4-5. Driver Scott Young sent the Benoit Baillargeon trainee from the outermost post in the quintet to the lead and faced little pressure. Through fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:28.1 Absolut Seelster strolled to a 1:58.4 victory by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Pocket-sitter Power And Grace finished second with Severus Hanover taking third.
Owned by Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin, Absolut Seelster—a six-year-old mare by Angus Hall—won her eighth race from 32 starts this season and her 29th from 122 overall, earning $282,171. She paid $3.90 to win.
On the pacing side Pretty Handsome went wire to wire as the 7-5 favourite in the $11,500 Preferred 2 co-feature.
Clearing command past a :26.4 quarter, Pretty Handsome decelerated to a :55.2 half and rated to three-quarters 1:24.1 as American Wiggle tipped first over heading to the final turn. Pretty Handsome maintained command through the lane while pursued by Heza Thrill N to win by a half length in 1:52.4. American Wiggle held third.
A four-year-old gelding by Mach Three, Pretty Handsome won his 11th race from 26 starts this season and his 24th from 46 overall, earning $236,925. Colin Kelly steered the $3.50 winner for trainer Andrew McCabe and owner Glenview Livestock Ltd.
Beachin Lindy swept to a neck victory in the $8,500 Callie Rankin Memorial Pace. The four-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding sat fifth to a :27.1 quarter set by even-money favourite Jay Eye Em, who held the lead for most of the mile. Atlantis pressed first over through middle splits of :57 and 1:25 as Beachin Lindy grabbed cover moving to the final turn. Beachin Lindy launched off cover after Jay Eye Em through the stretch and grabbed the lead in the final strides to win in 1:54.2. Jay Eye Em settled for second with Always N The Money third.
Owned by Larocque Racing Stable Inc., Beachin Lindy won his third race from 28 starts this season and his 12th from 57 overall, earning $106,044. Robert Shepherd steered the $5.80 winner for trainer Stephen Charlton.
Sicario went wire to wire later on the card in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot. Driver Brett MacDonald sent the four-year-old Holiday Road gelding to the front before a :27.3 opening quarter and faced little challenge through a :58.1 half and three-quarters in 1:27.4. The Richard Moreau trainee widened to a two-and-three-quarter length victory over pocket-sitter Katch Kanna. Encarnacion took third.
Owned by Rick Rier, Pamela Hehn and John Hehn, Sicario won his seventh race in 27 starts and his 16th from 57 overall, earning $146,505. He paid $3.80 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.