Im Victor controlled the tempo and marched to victory in the $25,200 Autumn Series final for two- and three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Sunday, Oct. 26 at Flamboro Downs.
Night Wash (Nick Boyd) rocketed to the lead from post seven, but Im Victor remained wide for Travis Cullen and declined a three-hole seat to take control at the first station in :28.2. Im Victor paced along at a solid clip through the middle splits of :57 and 1:26.1, preventing the outside line from moving into contention, and he widened his advantage coming into the last turn. Cullen kept the colt to task down the lane, and Im Victor rolled to a two-length victory in 1:56. Stroker (Gary Rivest) was parked the mile but battled on for second over Wills Watchin (Mario Baillargeon).
Im Victor is now five-for-10 with $29,230 in earnings. Cory Fuller trains the son of Sportswriter-Im Stunning for Kyle Strejch of Coldwater, Ont. The colt paid $3.90 to win.
The Autumn Series is for Ontario-sired two- and three-year-olds that were non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of Sept. 30.
Batterup Hanover went back-to-back in the $10,000 Horses & Geldings Preferred Pace via a pocket trip. Jason Ryan sent the gelding into the garden seat behind longshot leader Jj Tommy (J Harris), who carved out unhurried fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.2. The first challenge came from Batterup Hanover, who vacated the pocket and fought past the tough pacesetter in deep stretch to score by a half-length in 1:54. Reign Supreme (Daryl Thiessen) was third.
Ben Hollingsworth conditions Batterup Hanover, a Betting Line-Beachbunny Hanover gelding, for owners Debbie Francis of Sweets Corner, N.S., Rosanne Langille of Lower Onslow, N.S., Douglas Lowthers of Inverness, N.S., and Chantel Langille of Montague, P.E.I. The seven-year-old has racked up 32 victories and $178,720 in earnings in 109 starts. He returned $3.80 to win.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)