The six-year-old Angus Hall gelding Bastiano gripped command through the whole mile to score a mild 8-1 upset in the $11,500 Preferred 2 Trot at Flamboro Downs on Tuesday (Oct. 20).
Driver Robert Shepherd shot Bastiano for the front from post 4 while The Fixer fired for the top from post 7. Bastiano cleared and kept The Fixer parked to a :28.3 first quarter and through a :57.2 half. Race-favourite In Secret sat second over but tipped three wide as The Fixer began to backtrack past three-quarters in 1:27. In Secret pressed Bastiano into the stretch but only slimmed the temposetter’s margin, finishing three-quarter lengths behind the winner in a 1:56.4 mile. Pocket-sitter Power And Grace took third.
Owned by Bernie Bahr, Bastiano won his second race from 15 starts this season and his 19th from 75 overall, earning $123,988. Shane Arsenault trains the $18.20 winner.
Favourite YS Tallia took the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace by open lengths with a 1:53.1 mile.
Away third to a :27 first quarter, YS Tallia tipped first over as Lyons River Pride sped to a :55.3 half. Up the backstretch YS Tallia powered past Lyons River Pride and opened three lengths to three-quarters in 1:23.3. Buttermilk Hanover raced uncovered into the final turn tracked by Lively Rocket and the pair gave pursuit through the stretch while YS Tallia coasted to a five-and-three-quarter length victory. Lively Rocket launched off cover to take second while Buttermilk Hanover settled for third.
A six-year-old mare by Western Ideal, YS Tallia won her third race from nine starts this season and her 21st from 73 overall, earning $276,930. Brett MacDonald drove the $4.10 winner for trainer Richard Moreau and owner-breeder Yves Sarrazin.
MacDonald also steered Veyron to victory in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot. The seven-year-old Muscles Yankee gelding sat third to a :29.3 first quarter before edging first over to a :59.3 half. Veyron marched uncovered towards tempo-setter Majestic Brayden and drew to equal terms by three-quarters in 1:28.3. Into the stretch Veyron slid to the lead and maintained control to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths over Majestic Brayden with Magic Night finishing another three lengths behind in third.
Owned by TJS Stable, Veyron won his fourth race from 25 starts this season and his 12th from 85 overall, earning $170,418. Paul Cameron conditions the $13.30 winner.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Flamboro Downs.