Pylon-starter Classlylaneprecious wasted no time to take and hold control in the third of three $8,500 divisions for the second preliminary of the Autumn Series on Sunday (Oct. 18) at Flamboro Downs.
Driver Brett MacDonald protected position with the three-year-old filly by Big Jim, taking the field by the quarter in :27.4. Lady To Watch tipped first over heading to a :58 half but backtracked into the backstretch, giving room for Double Play to mount an uncovered bid at the leader towards three-quarters in 1:26.4. Classylaneprecious turned away Double Play with ease and widened her lead into the stretch, finishing a 1:56.2 mile with a three-and-three-quarter length advantage. Century Gaga took third.
A homebred for High Stakes Inc. co-owned by Rocky & Antonio Tangreda, Classylaneprecious won her second race from 13 starts, earning $14,769. Jack Moiseyev trains the $3.90 winner.
Wildcat Delight delivered as the 1-9 favourite in the opening division of the Autumn Series with a wire-to-wire 1:57.4 score.
Leading the field by the quarter in :28.3, Wildcat Delight endured little challenge to middle fractions of :58.2 and 1:28. Into the final turn the Tyler Nostadt-trained Bettors Delight filly opened her lead, coasting to a seven-length win over Lyons Anita closing for second. Sheplaysforkeeps also closed for third.
Owned by Blueshoe Investments, Wildcat Delight won her third race from 12 starts, earning $15,111. Travis Cullen drove the $2.20 winner.
Doctor Sunshine held on in a nose decision over Deep In The Red to take the middle division of the Autumn Series.
Grabbing the lead from post 4, Doctor Sunshine led uncontested through a clip of :28.3, :59.3 and 1:29.4 with Passion N Pearls drafting in the pocket. Past the half Maidens Cove tipped first over but only made slight gains to three-quarters, forcing Deep In The Red to roll three wide in her far-turn rally from fourth. Deep In The Red continued to dig into the pacesetter through the stretch but settled for second in the 1:59.1 mile with Passion N Pearls in contention but taking third.
Trained by Anthony Beaton for owners F. Ian Smith and Hal Smith, Doctor Sunshine won her third race from seven starts, earning $13,992. Scott Coulter drove the two-year-old Sunshine Beach filly who returned $4.70 to win.
Champagne Phil charged from third over to land on the finish first in the co-featured $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace.
Cinnamack set the pace through early splits of :27.3 and :57.2 before enduring a first-over challenge from Paparazzi Hanover. YS Lotus tracked cover from second over and Champagne Phil from third over as Paparazzi Hanover edged by Cinnamack as he tired to three-quarters in 1:26.1. Clearing command into the final turn, Paparazzi Hanover soon gave way to YS Lotus who in turn failed to repel Champagne Phil, the latter gathering his momentum and rolling to a neck victory in 1:55.3. YS Lotus finished second with Paparazzi Hanover third.
Owned by ICR Racing, Champagne Phil won his second race from seven starts this season and his 42nd from 219 overall, earning $593,981. Kenneth Oliver trains the 10-year-old Shanghai Phil gelding while Scott Coulter steered the $12.10 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.