After winning a conditioned event in a career-best 1:49.1 clocking with an eye-catching :25.3 closing quarter last week, Franceschetti hauled down the Preferred pacers on Saturday night for back-to-back wins at Woodbine Racetrack.
Sent postward as the favourite in the $34,000 Preferred class following his impressive performance last week, Franceschetti and driver Doug McNair settled away fifth in the field scratched down to six. Meanwhile, second choice Camaes Fellow (Jack Moiseyev) established the lead and carved out fractions of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:23.1. As the field rolled by the third quarter station, Franceschetti followed Piston Broke (Sylvain Filion) to the outside and then unleashed a :26.4 final frame to sweep by for the 1:51.3 triumph over a track rated two seconds off. Camaes Fellow held off Piston Broke for the runner-up honours three-quarters of a length behind.
Franceschetti paid $4.80 to win.
The four-year-old Mach Three gelding is co-owned by trainer Mark Horner of St. Marys, Ont. and R A W Equine Inc. of Burlington, Ont. He now boasts eight wins in 21 starts this year with his seasonal earnings climbing over the $100,000 mark.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.