Royalty Beer was king on Sunday, Oct. 15 at Flamboro Downs, romping in the feature $11,000 Preferred Trot on the 11-race card, which also featured round two of Autumn Series action.
Starting from post four in the full field of nine, driver Louis-Philippe Roy asserted Royalty Beer early in the mile, quickly grabbing the lead by four at the opening quarter in a hot :27.3. Roy grabbed leather in the second quarter, simmering down the hot early pace to the half in :58, two lengths in front of pocket-sitter Thirdtimesthedream and Tyler Moore. Roy picked the pace back up in the third quarter, allowing Royalty Beer to lead to that station in 1:26.3.
As the trotters turned for home, Royalty Beer began to pour it on his competitors, opening the lead up to six at the top of the stretch. Powering home in :28.2, Royalty Beer extended the lead to 7-1/2 lengths at the wire, steamrolling to victory in 1:55. Thirdtimesthedream held for second, with Sicario rounding out the trifecta.
Trained by Jean-Francois Maguire, Royalty Beer notched his fourth victory in 13 seasonal outings. Royalty Beer is a four-year-old gelded son of Royalty For Life-Beer Maggs and has banked $115,371 lifetime for owner Ecuries Maguire Inc.
Leg two of Autumn Series action was also contest on the Sunday night card, where favourites prevailed in the three divisions for pacing colts.
Nova Scotia Strong kicked things off in the first division, unleashing a dominant 1:56.1 victory for trainer/driver Tyler Moore. Starting from post three, Moore landed Nova Scotia Strong in the fourth position in the early stages before uncorking a vicious three-wide move in the third quarter, where he quickly assumed command. From there, Nova Scotia Strong surged down the lane in :28.3 to secure the four-length victory over Id Imagine and Phil Hudon.
The victory was the fifth in 12 lifetime starts for the three-year-old rookie son of Hes Watching-Alyssa Hanover. Owned by James Bagnell, Nova Scotia Strong now sports a career bankroll of $9,656.
Ifucouldreadmymind followed suit with a 1:58.2 first-over victory in the second division. After settling in third in the early stages, driver Travis Henry was given his cue in the second quarter to begin his first-over trek. Ifucouldreadmymind gutted out a :30.4 final quarter to fend off a late-charging D A Lunchbox and Tyler Borth by a head for the victory.
Trained by Robert Fellows for owners Richard Armstrong and Marc Gallant, Ifucouldreadmymind notched his fifth victory in 12 career starts. A three-year-old rookie son of Sunshine Beach-Twilight Seelster, Ifucouldreadmymind pushed his lifetime earnings to $12,664 with the win.
D A Jiminy Cricket with Anthony Haughan completed the Autumn Series contests on the night, soaring to a 1:57 victory. Haughan settle in third after leaving from the rail before sending D A Jiminy Cricket to the lead at the halfway point. D A Jiminy Cricket wouldn't relinquish the lead from that point forward, pacing home in a stout :29 to win by five lengths over Country Mouse and Travis Henry.
Trained and owned by Michael Saftic, the three-year-old gelded son of Big Jim-Stonebridge Debut visited the winner's circle for the second time in his career. With the victory, D A Jiminy Cricket has now banked $13,370 for his career.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Photo of Royalty Beer winning previous race at 3R)