Hey Ralphie trudged first-over for five-eighths of a mile to capture the $11,000 Preferred Trot over a good track on a truncated Thursday, Dec. 18 card at Flamboro Downs.
Jason Ryan got the gelding away fourth from a rail start in a :28.1 first quarter but had him out and advancing as the field swung by three-eighths. Hey Ralphie reached the wheel of leader Goodashim (Scott Coulter) just past the half in :59.2, matched strides with him through three-quarters in 1:29.3, then muscled to the lead on the final turn and stayed in front to the line, winning by a length in 1:59.4. Insanity (Paul MacKenzie) finished third.
The victory for Hey Ralphie was his first in a Preferred-level event and his seventh overall this season in 28 starts. The seven-year-old son of Il Sogno Dream-Eastside is now 12-for-77 lifetime with $110,945 in earnings. Robert Reid trains the gelding for David Shea of Burlington, Ont. The winner returned $5.20.
The Preferred became the final race of the evening, as Flamboro officials cancelled the remainder of the card due to unsafe track conditions before the fifth race.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Hey Ralphie from a previous win at Woodbine Mohawk Park)