Odds-on favourite Hes Got Swagger left for the lead early and maintained control to take the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Taking the field to a :27.3 first quarter, Hes Got Swagger faced little challenge through middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:24.1. Pretty Handsome rolled first over moving to the final turn and gained ground on the pacesetter but hit the finish three-quarter lengths shy of victory in a 1:52.2 mile. Pocket-sitter Paparazzi Hanover finished third.
A four-year-old gelding by Vintage Master, Hes Got Swagger—paying $3.90 to win—competes for owners Travis Cullen, who drove the winner, and trainer Rachel Andrew. He collected his seventh victory from 23 starts this season and his 22nd from 52 overall, surpassing $100,000 in earnings.
Cullen also steered 1-9 favourite Dreamfair B J to a 1:54.2 victory in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace. The five-year-old Big Jim gelding raced fourth to a :27.4 first quarter before Cullen brushed the Jodie Cullen trainee to the point past a :57.3 half. From there Dreamfair B J led past three-quarters in 1:25.1 and withstood a three-wide rally through the stretch from Easy Flyer by a length. Pocket-sitter Toot Toot N finished third.
Owned by John Lamers, Dreamfair B J won his sixth race from 31 starts this season and his 13th from 69 overall, earning $230,733. He paid $2.10 to win.
Whiskey Tax took the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot going wire to wire in 1:58.2. The 11-year-old Revenue S gelding pushed for the front from the pylon post and faced no pressure through splits of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:29.1. The Tom Durand trainee spun for home leading pocket-sitter Lady Caterina, who attempted to surge for command late but finished a head behind in second. Elysium Lindy chased the top two for third.
Owned by June Durand, Tom Durand and Allan Smith, Whiskey Tax won his third race from 18 starts this season and his 22nd from 146 overall, earning $1,123,640. Scott Young steered the $3.50 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.