The opening leg of the Hump Day Claiming Series went postward Wednesday at Georgian Downs, with a trio of $8,000 divisions on tap.
Justlikejessejames rallied from well off-the-pace to take home top prize in the opening tilt for the tandem of driver Steve Byron and trainer James Belanger. The four-year-old son of Million Dollar Cam, who was seventh at the mid-way point of the contest, kicked home strong and won by a head over My Lucky Killean in 1:55.3. Race favourite Sky Desperado had to settle for the show dough.
The gelding, who is owned by Champlain Stables of Azilda, ON, won for the third time this season while pushing his lifetime earnings to $32,853.
Prosecco Brut showed no mercy to the foes he faced in the second division. The three-year-old son of Real Desire brushed to the front past the quarter pole and never looked back en route to posting the decisive win in 1:54.2. It was 8-3/4 lengths back to runner-up Cereal Lover, with Beach Mach taking home third prize.
Billy Davis, Jr. mapped out the winning trip for the Mick Grant trainee, who is owned by Barry Whidden of Truro and Ellsworth Atkinson of Truro, NS along with Bruce McGrath of Calgary, AB. It was the fifth triumph of the year for the career winner of $32,800.
The final division went to Martydaonemanparty, who wired up his foes in a career-best clocking of 1:56.1 for the team of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Richard Moreau. The three-year-old son of Modern Art sliced out splits of :28, :57.2 and 1:25.4 before using a :30.3 closing panel to win by a half-length margin over Navahoe. Shark Shootout took home the bronze medal.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Martydaonemanparty improved this year’s record to 4-4-1 from 21 starts while banking more than $21,000. The six-time winner has earned just shy of $35,000 to date for owners Stephanie and Brian Cassell of Gloucester, ON.
To view results for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Georgian Downs.