Sitting a pocket trip, 1-2 favourite Absolut Seelster put away pacesetter Power And Grace in the final strides to take the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, December 15.
Driver Scott Young placed the six-year-old Angus Hall mare in the pocket as Power And Grace led the field to the quarter in :29.1. She continued on an uncontested lead into a 1:00.1 half but faced first-over pressure from Willyorwonthe up the backside and towards three-quarters in 1:29.4. Willyorwonthe stayed in contention rounding the final turn, but through the stretch gave chase as Absolut Seelster swung out of the pocket and by her competition to win by a head in 1:59.2. Power And Grace settled for second with Willyorwonthe in third.
Trained by Benoit Baillargeon for owners Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin, Absolut Seelster won her 10th race from 37 starts this season and her 31st in 127 overall, earning $299,421. She paid $3.10 to win.
Young and Baillargeon teamed in the race following to take the $11,500 Horses and Geldings Preferred 2 Handicap Pace with Rock This Way in a 1:54 mile.
Beachin Lindy held a brief lead passing the first quarter in :28.3 until Keep Coming cleared control into the second turn. Keep Coming then took the field by a :57 half but faced a challenge into the backstretch from Rock This Way, who shot first over from fourth. The five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding ranged closer to the pacesetter passing three-quarters in 1:25.2 and drew to equal terms turning for the finish. From there Rock This Way edged a half length in front to claim victory with Keep Coming holding second from Beachin Lindy.
Owned by Santo and Nunzio Vena, Rock This Way won his third race from 30 starts this season and his 11th from 97 overall, earning $244,815. He paid $10.60 to win.
A few races later Scott Young returned to the winner’s circle when steering Uf Bettors Hanover to a 1:54.4 win in the $8,500 Horses and Geldings Preferred 3 Pace.
Even-money favourite Thorn In Your Side raced mostly unchallenged as he sped through fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:24.4 with Jay Eye Em sitting second and Uf Bettors Hanover third. Hes Got Swagger mounted a first-over bid midway through the mile but stalled in his pursuit entering the last turn, where Thorn In Your Side owned a length lead. But Young launched Uf Bettors Hanover from third through the stretch to land a head in front of Thorn In Your Side at the finish with Jay Eye Em taking third.
A nine-year-old gelding by Bettors Delight, Uf Bettors Hanover won his sixth race from 36 starts this season and his 31st from 269 overall, earning $308,695. Scott West owns and trains the $12.80 winner.
The seven-year-old Crazed gelding Azucar pulled a sweet upset in the final co-feature of the evening when taking the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot in 1:59.1 at odds of 18-1.
Starting from the second tier, Azucar secured a spot in fourth as Lady Carterina rolled to the first quarter in :29 four lengths clear of Ionia in second. Lady Caterina continued unchallenged through middle splits of :58.3 and 1:29 but tired into the last turn as driver Travis Henry tipped Azucar loose. The Martin Lachance trainee swept to the lead into the stretch and held off a late charge from pocket-sitter Ionia to win by three-quarter lengths. Kris Me Goodnight closed for third.
Co-owned by Lachance with T. Marielle Enberg, Azucar won his fifth race from 25 starts this season and his 29th from 145 overall, earning $226,519. He paid $38.50 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.