Cutting the mile, Pro Beach kept pocket-pouncer Outlawgrabbingears at bay to win in the $11,500 Horses & Geldings Preferred 2 Handicap Pace at Flamboro Downs on Sunday (Nov. 1).
Driver Brett MacDonald moved Pro Beach to the lead from post 4, setting a pace of :27.2, :57.1 and 1:25.1 with the lone challenge coming from Choreographer pulling first over to the far turn but then stalling into the stretch. Outlawgrabbingears dove into the open stretch and rallied towards the pacesetter late, but Pro Beach held a head advantage at the finish of a 1:54.1 mile. Sportsline swept from last for third while 7-5 favourite Brodys Scrapper finished fourth.
A five-year-old gelding by Somebeachsomewhere, Pro Beach won his fifth race from 24 starts this season and his 10th from 75 overall, earning $196,454. Richard Moreau trains the $17.30 winner for owners Sylvain Descheneaux, Gaar Racing Stables and Gaston Bibeau.
Hes Got Swagger also posted a wire-to-wire victory when winning the $8,500 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 Pace. The five-year-old Vintage Master gelding grabbed the lead from post 3 to a :28 first quarter and parked first-over challenger Chocolate Swirl to a :58 half and by three-quarters in 1:25.4. Chocolate Swirl faltered after the tempo quickened, leaving Hes Got Swagger alone to a one-and-a-quarter length victory in 1:54.3 over pocket-sitter Prestige Seeslter. Jay Eye Em came from third over for show.
Co-owned by Travis Cullen and trainer Rachel Andrew, Hes Got Swagger won his sixth race from 24 starts this season and his 31st from 87 overall, earning $154,799. Travis Henry drove the $17.40 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.