1,000 Driving Wins For Travis Henry; 'Grand' Upset In Autumn Series

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Published: October 17, 2018 09:39 pm EDT

Travis Henry cashed in for his 1,000th career driving victory with 48-1 outsider Robintheatm ($98.80) on Wednesday (Oct. 17) at Flamboro Downs, emerging from traffic with three-sixteenths to go to capture the evening's seventh race.

Robintheatm, who was one of three to vie for the early lead after leaving from post 8, tucked in midfield on the first turn and was locked in approaching a :58.3 half mile controlled by odds-on favourite April Bandit (Louis-Philippe Roy). When the second-over Dream Ball (Brett MacDonald) began to gap cover on approach to the final turn, Henry angled Robintheatm off the pegs and the pair took aim.

The six-year-old Nuclear Breeze mare swung three-wide off the home turn and lifted to collar first-over challenger Hex (J.R. Plante) by a neck to win in 1:58.1. April Bandit was a narrowly-beaten third.

Clifford McGuire trains 11-time winner Robintheatm for Nanci McGuire.

For Henry, who began his driving career in 2010 and has established himself as a mainstay on the Ontario circuit, his 1,000th career win came in the midst of a second consecutive million-dollar season.

Stonebridge Grand Upsets In Autumn Series Final

Stonebridge Grand ($24.40) darted through a seam at the pegs a quarter from home and reeled in pacesetter Jay Eye Em to upset in the $27,000 Autumn Series final for Ontario-sired male pacers.

With odds-on favourite and dual preliminary winner Sportsline on a break before the start, the complexion of the race changed dramatically as soon as the gates sprung. Jay Eye Em (Travis Cullen) protected inside position to assume the pacesetting duties, and Stonebridge Grand found himself locked in from mid-division with five-eighths to go.

On the second circuit, when pocket rival Stonebridge Guard (Scott Wray) and the first-over Jims Great (Doug Brown) locked wheels up the far side, J Harris pointed Stonebridge Grand to an inside clearing, and the pair encroached steadily on Jay Eye Em through the final turn before taking over a sixteenth from home. Stonebridge Grand prevailed in 1:58, holding off a late charge from Dreamfair Charro (Colin Kelly) by three-quarters of a length. Jay Eye Em was an engulfed third.


Stonebridge Grand, in his second Ontario start, took the $27,000 Autumn Series final

Stephen Downey owns Stonebridge Grand, a three-year-old Camluck gelding who campaigned in the Maritimes and Maine until this month. Ian Downey took over the training duties of the six-time winner when he arrived in Ontario.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Flamboro Downs.

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