Headed past three-quarters, Esquire fought back to win the $13,000 Preferred 2 Trot featured on Thursday night's (Nov. 18) harness racing card at Flamboro Downs.
Leaving from post five, driver Colin Kelly sent Esquire to the lead ahead of last week's winner Power And Grace (Brett MacDonald) through a :29.1 opening quarter. After a half in :59, Gold Edition (Blair Burgess) advanced from third and gained the advantage approaching three-quarters in 1:27.1 with Sizzlen Hot Herbie (Scott Coulter) ready to roll three-wide off his cover turning for home. However, Esquire fought back in the stretch to score by a neck in 1:57.4 over the pylon-skimming 7-5 favourite, Power And Grace. Gold Edition and Sizzlen Hot Herbie finished one length behind in a dead-heat for third.
Esquire has won two of the last three Preferreds this month, with a third-place finish last time out. He paid $9.30 to win as the 7-2 third choice and capped off a Thursday night driving hat trick for Kelly.
Trained by Mark Goddard, the eight-year-old gelded son of Kadabra notched his sixth win of the season from 25 starts and lifted his annual income to $61,610 for owner Brandon Guerra of Brantford, Ont.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.