Champagne Phil was no match for his Preferred 2 rivals at Flamboro Downs on Sunday night, romping to a flashy 10-1/2 length victory in 1:52.4.
Dean Nixon trains the four-year-old Shanghai Phil gelding for ICR Racing of Pefferlaw, Ont. while Travis Henry was along for the ride. The 6-5 favourite carved out fractions of :27, :55.2 and 1:23.4 while extending his lead to six lengths and was into the double digits through the final quarter. Goldstar Badlands and Brocks Fortune were the best of the rest.
Champagne Phil ($4.40) was making his second start this year at the Dundas, Ont. half-mile oval. He notched his fifth win in 37 seasonal starts while the lion's share of the $11,000 purse pushed her annual income to $74,695.
Blue Chip Sunshine ($4.30) prevailed up the passing lane in the $7,000 Preferred 3 by a quarter-length over pacesetter Get Around Town in 1:56.4. Alfie Carroll worked out the perfect pocket trip aboard the five-year-old pacer owned by trainer Richard Moreau (as Ecurie Richard Moreau Inc.) and Melanie Tilley of Moffat, Ont.
Local horseman Vernon Cochrane's four-year-old pacing mare Ding ($12.30) journeyed first over to win the matching Preferred 3 for distaffers in 1:57.3 by a quarter-length over Sydney Seelster. The win was Henry's third of the night as he also picked up a victory with his own trainee Shesbadtothebone in the opener for $5,000 claiming mares.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.