Flamboro Downs hosted five divisions of the opening preliminary for the Autumn Series — three for pacing fillies and two for trotting colts and geldings — on Sunday night (Oct. 9).
Impressive Dude pulled pocket to win as the 2-5 choice in the first division for trotting colts and geldings. Driver Louis Philippe-Roy piloted the two-year-old My MVP colt he co-owns to victory after Nigel Springwell broke stride past a :58.4 half. Roy capped the mile in 1:59 to beat The Great Reset by 1-3/4 lengths with Nigel Springwell another 11 lengths behind in third. Eric Nadeau conditions the $2.80 winner, who collected his third victory and has now earned $12,676, also for co-owners Michel Letarte and Jean Allaire.
A few races later, Roy repeated with a coast-to-coast effort by Jacked in the other trotting colt and gelding split. The three-year-old Muscle Mass gelding carved a clip of :29.3, :59.4 and 1:30 to win by three lengths in 1:59.2 with pocket-sitter Commemorative second and C S Goldpolicy another seven lengths behind in third. Bob McIntosh trains and co-owns the homebred through his Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. with C S X Stables and Dave Boyle. He paid $2.40 to win in taking his second victory and adding to an account now worth $13,085.
Trainer-driver Lyle MacArthur forged first over to a narrow victory with Keepingasecret in the first division for pacing fillies. Away fourth to a :28.1 first quarter, MacArthur marched forward up the rim with the three-year-old Control The Moment filly and gained past a :58.2 half to match strides with pacesetter Miss Canada to three-quarters in 1:27.4. The pair battled through the lane with Keepingasecret getting the upper nose in 1:57.4 to get her first victory and push her bankroll to $9,810. Linda Wellwood and Tammy Aspden own the filly who paid $10.40 to win.
Getting Euchred protected position from the pylons and held firm on the point to post a 1:58.3 win in the second pacing filly division. The two-year-old daughter of All Bets Off set a tempo of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:28 while only enduring mid-race pressure from Treasures Watching. Driver Tyler Borth kept the Brent Belore trainee to task through the lane as she withstood a late charge from Mending Fences by a neck with Treasures Watching finishing third. Ron Thomson owns the four-time victor and earner of $13,428. She paid $2.50 to win.
Big cheese paid through the windows for Chedda Chedda, who swept from last to first to win as the second longest shot in the final pacing filly division. A swift tempo of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:27 set by Dream Of Jeannie established a backfield blitz in the final quarter. Driver Jason Ryan vaulted the two-year-old Betterthancheddar filly by the competition to recoup six lengths and pass the beam a length better than Badditude in 1:59.2. Chantel Mitchell conditions the $65.10 winner for owner Decision Theory Inc. She won her first race and has now earned $4,250.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.