Freshman Sunshine Beach colt Sunshine N Shade bested older competition while also pacing the fastest mile of the two divisions of the second preliminary of Autumn Series at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, Nov. 17.
Driver Anthony MacDonald sent Sunshine N Shade for the top and endured no challenge through fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:26.1. The Mario Baillargeon trainee strolled to a 1:55 victory by two lengths over pocket-sitter and 6-5 favourite Jeffs Journey with Nosportpunintended finishing third another 11 lengths behind.
Owned by Thestable Sunshine Nshade, Sunshine N Shade won his first race from eight starts, earning $10,720. He paid $5.80 to win.
Conboyville opened the card winning the other division of the Autumn Series also with a wire-to-wire effort.
Leaving from the pylon post, Conboyville parked St Lads Beat It to a :28 opening quarter and regained an uncontested lead as that rival broke stride moving to a :57.3 half. Conboyville took the field by three-quarters in 1:27.2 and cruised to a 1:56.1 victory by two-and-three-quarter lengths over Mayor Mittcheese. Sportslover finished another six lengths behind in third.
A three-year-old gelding by Dali, Conboyville won his sixth race from eight starts this season and his seventh from 15 overall, earning $30,154. Robert Shepherd steered the $2.90 winner for trainer Isabelle Darveau and owners Duncan and Shirley Buist.
Absolut Seelster strolled to a coast-to-coast score in the $11,500 Preferred 2 Trot. The six-year-old Angus Hall mare controlled the tempo through fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:28.1 while only facing mild first-over pressure up the backside from Its Huw You Know. Sizzlen Hot Herbie kicked off cover moving to the final turn but gave pursuit to the Benoit Baillargeon trainee as she trotted to a 1:57.2 win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Pound Sterling, off a pocket trip, finished third.
Owned by Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin, Absolut Seelster won her ninth race from 35 starts this season and her 30th from 125 overall, earning $290,796. Scott Young steered the $4.00 winner.
Sitting off dueling leaders, 6-5 favourite Big Mach N pounced to command entering the final turn to take the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace.
American Wiggle took control to the first turn while Bugsy Maguire also showed speed from post 7. The pair paced through pressed splits of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:24.4 with only a length between them. Moving to three-quarters, owner-driver Travis Cullen angled Big Mach N to the center of the course and swiftly overtook the battling leaders.
At the top of the stretch the six-year-old Mach Three gelding owned three lengths on runner-up American Wiggle, hitting the finish with a four-length margin in a 1:53.2 mile. The Regulator rallied for third.
Trained by Jodie Cullen, Big Mach N won his fifth race from 17 starts this season and his 14th from 59 overall, earning $82,411. He paid $4.40 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.