After narrow misses in his last two starts in the class, Muscle Matters finally got the monkey off his back on Saturday (October 28) with a victory in the featured $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap at Flamboro Downs.
Driver Scott Coulter positioned Muscle Matters off the early speed as Happy Holidays (Anthony MacDonald) was pressured by favoured Finish Line (Alfie Carroll) through fractions of :28, :57 and 1:27 over the track rated 'good'. Coulter was able to follow Stormont Kate (Bruce Richardson) three-wide down the backstretch and was positioned second over behind Stormont Kate as the trotting mare took the lead around the final turn. In the stretch, Muscle Matters was able to power past Stormont Kate in the final strides for the 1:57 score. Charlie Is A Joker (Bob McClure) closed with speed to complete the triactor.
Muscle Matters (Muscle Mass - Sister Mary Lindy) is owned by trainer Ben Baillargeon along with Nunzio Vena, Santo Vena and Richard Thompson of London, Ont. The six-year-old now sports 15 lifetime wins -- four this year -- with career earnings of $537,382. His last win came at Flamboro Downs in May 2017...in a Preferred 2 Trot over an off surface.
In the $7,500 Preferred 3 Trot, Deweylovernleaver was a dominant gate-to-wire winner. With Bob McClure up for trainer Richard Moreau, the four-year-old Deweycheatumnhowe gelding cruised to a five-length 1:58 win for owners Chris Beaver, Synerco Ventures Inc. and Leo Fleming.
For full results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.