Sudbury Downs' first leg of the Harvest Series for $6,000 to $7,000 claiming pacers kicked off on Wednesday night with three $4,900 divisions
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With Gerry Belanger in the sulky, Sf Razamatazz built up an insurmountable six length lead by the third quarter mark and cruised home to win the first division in 1:57.4 as the even-money favourite. No Competition (David Dowling) came in second one and a half lengths behind while Pretty Patriot (Paul MacLean) finished third.
The five-year-old son of Cam Terrific won his second race in three starts since being claimed back by trainer Suzanne Lavoie of Chelmsford, Ont. and Klazina Cummings of Sudbury, Ont. for $5,000 on Oct. 22 at Sudbury Downs after spending three weeks in the stable of Meighan MacLennan. Sf Razamatazz's Wednesday win was his fifth of the season in 29 starts and pushed his 2011 earnings to $19,903.
Mario Rivest and 2-1 favourite Cinema Classic rallied from third to first and held off longshot Digam (Gerry Belanger) and Read Leaf Morgan (Paul MacLean) by half a length to win the second split in 1:58 flat for owner-trainer Richard Villeneuve of Val Caron, Ont.
The four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover, who has won three of his 33 races this year while banking $19,511, was claimed for $7,500 by Ron Chevrier of Chelmsford, Ont.
Justa Regular Joe converted from the pocket to win the final division in by one length in 1:58.2 for the tandem of driver-owner Paul MacLean and trainer France MacLean of Chelmsford, Ont. Hobbys Hobbit (Mike MacNeill) and Gamin Blanco (Gerry Belanger) came on for second and third.
The seven-year-old son of Island Fantasy paid $14.80 to win as 6-1 sixth choice in the seven-horse field. The win was his fifth in 20 seasonal starts and lifted his earnings to $23,405 for 2011.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results – Sudbury Downs.