Driver Brett MacDonald motored Power And Grace to the point and never looked back in the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot on Tuesday (Dec. 1) at Flamboro Downs, scoring a going-away victory in 1:57.3.
The five-year-old Holiday Road mare cleared control from pylon-starter Bastiano moving to a :28.3 opening quarter and maintained an uncontested lead to a :59.3 half. By that point, 8-5 favourite In Secret slid first over from fourth and progressed towards the leader’s wheel approaching three-quarters in 1:28.2. In Secret stayed alongside Power And Grace around the final turn but promptly backtracked into the stretch while Power And Grace drew clear from Bastiano, hitting the finish three-and-a-half lengths in front. The Fixer finished third.
Owned by Hartel Maintenance Inc. and Lormer McClure, Power And Grace won her 10th race from 27 starts this season and her 24th from 72 overall, earning $185,385. Ronald MacDonald trains the $5.60 winner.
Towed into contention but then left uncovered, Manhattan Night nonetheless braved a first-over journey around the far turn to score in the $10,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Pace.
Manhattan Night raced fourth to a :27.2 opening quarter and through a :58.1 half before driver Travis Henry angled the four-year-old Dali mare off the pylons to catch cover from 8-5 favourite Dont Stop Believin. Dont Stop Believin dashed to the lead up the backstretch, leaving Manhattan Night alone to the wind as she inched towards the front through three-quarters in 1:27.1. Off the turn Manhattan Night maintained control as Dont Stop Believin gave way heading to the finish of a 1:57 mile. Bettor Trix N rallied up the open stretch for second, beaten three-quarter lengths, while So Long Darling closed for third.
Owned by Luc Ouellette Incorporated and Alan Alber, Manhattan Night won her seventh race from 24 starts this season and her 14th from 47 overall, earning $135,269. Anita Ouellette trains the $9.70 winner.
Katch Kanna capitalized off a pocket trip to take the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot in 1:59.1. The Jacques Dupont trainee ducked into the pocket as Sicario led to the quarter in :28.1. Odds-on favourite Veyron edged first over from third moving to a :58.3 half and matched strides with the tempo-setter into the clubhouse turn. The pair continued to battle through three-quarters in 1:27.4 but grew leg weary off the final turn while Katch Kanna had open road for fresh legs. Katch Kanna kicked past the two in the stretch to hit the finish one-and-three-quarter to the good.
A seven-year-old gelding by Lucky Chucky, Katch Kanna won his fifth race from 27 starts this season and his 25th from 136 overall, earning $200,997. J. R. Plante drove the $14.90 winner for owners Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc. and Sylvain Descheneaux.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Flamboro Downs.