Awol Hanover ($9.30) overcame post 8, put away Fluff Me Up on the final turn, and proved a determined 1:57 winner over the late-rallying Fork in Wednesday evening’s (Dec. 20) featured $11,500 Preferred 2 trotting event at Flamboro Downs.
One of five leavers at race’s outset, the three-year-old Donato Hanover gelding settled in mid-division as Lets Leavem (J Harris) dueled clear of Waikiki Hanover (Paul MacKenzie) just after completing a :28 first quarter. Bob McClure angled Awol Hanover off the pegs with five-eighths to go, flushed live cover from Fluff Me Up (Brett MacDonald) nearing a :57.4 half, and advanced in the two-wide flow while Fluff Me Up encroached on Lets Leavem on the clubhouse turn.
After Fluff Me Up pressed Lets Leavem into defeat up the far side, a now-uncovered Awol Hanover sustained his advance and stuck a head in front at the three-quarter mark in 1:27.4. He continued to wear down Fluff Me Up on the final turn before parrying a three-wide charge from Fork (Scott Coulter) through the final quarter mile. Awol Hanover ultimately beat Fork—who broke stride in the last yards—by half a length. Seeyou Men (Robert Shepherd) rallied belatedly to take third from the tiring Fluff Me Up.
Luc Blais trains Awol Hanover—now a five-time winner—for the Determination group of Montreal. For McClure, the featured win capped a driving hat trick on the 10-race program.
The nation’s leading dash-winning driver also captured one of the three Alliance Claiming Series events for distaff pacers, teaming up with prohibitive favourite Argyle Alberwhosur ($2.80) in the night’s fifth race and piloting her to a second consecutive win in the series. The Isaac Waxman trainee posted a 1:59 mile, 4-1/4 lengths better than her competition. Dorabella ($10.70, 1:57.3) and driver Jason Ryan gave Waxman a double in the series, while Island Blue ($14.00, 1.57.2) and Brett MacDonald narrowly prevailed from the pocket on arrival from Ottawa in the final division.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Flamboro Downs.