Driver Travis Henry and trainer Martin Lachance swept the featured Preferred events as trotters Vesuvio Bi and Azucar prevailed in a pair of close Flamboro Downs finishes on Thursday night (Novemebr 22) with winter-like temperatures dipping to 10 below zero.
Following a similar winning performance in last Thursday's top trot, Vesuvio Bi went first-up and defeated the front-runner at the wire once again. In this week's $11,500 Preferred 2, he dropped into the two-hole on the final turn and shot through the passing lane to prevail in 1:56.4 by a neck over Absolut Seelster while Willyorwonthe closed off his cover to come within a half-length on the line.
Owned by Lachance Racing Stable and Dan Mogridge, Vesuvio Bi is a four-year-old gelding son of Manofmanymissions who now boasts a dozen wins and a six-figure bankroll. He returned $9.90 to win as the 4-1 fourth wagering choice.
It was also a close finish in the $8,500 Preferred 3 as 8-5 favourite Azucar ($5.30) rebuffed first-over challenger Etruscan Hanover then held off the pocket-pulling Escuela in a neck decision for his 1:57.2 win. Henry drove the six-year-old Crazed gelding, who has two dozen career wins and more than $180,000 in purse earnings, for Lachance and co-owner Marielle Enberg.
Henry, who currently ranks among the top five drivers at Flamboro this year, went on to double his win total for the night with additional victories in back-to-back races aboard the Patrick Shepherd-trained pacers Strokin ($7) and Lady London ($3.30).
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.