The New Year's Eve program at Flamboro Downs Sunday, December 31 featured three Preferred events, all ending in close finishes to close out the 2017 season.
Sent the favourite, Sr Beach Babe brushed first over around the final turn to win the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace in 1:58.1.
Howmacfiesty held an uncontested lead, going a :29 opening quarter and a :59.2 before being challenged by Sr Beach Babe tipping wide from third. Drawing within a length of the leader into the stretch, Sr Beach Babe edged to the lead through the stretch, winning by three-quarters of a length, with Mischieviousgirls rallying from last to finish third.
A four-year-old mare by Oaks Enforcer out of the Jennas Beach boy mare Sand On The Beach, Sr Beach Babe, owned by Steve Mihalic, won her sixth race in 39 starts and her 14th in 84 lifetime, compiling $122,480 in earnings. Trained by Craig Gilmour and driven by Bob McClure, she paid $4.60 to win.
Going wire-to-wire, One Over Par held off even-money favourite Bad Night Mare by a neck in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace, winning in 1:57.4.
Left unchallenged on the lead, One Over Par set fractions of :28.1 and :57.2 before being challenged at three-quarters by Bad Night Mare, passing that station in 1:27.2. Separated by a half-length into the stretch, One Over Par held off Bad Night Mare pressuring to the outside, holding on to win. Dancing Shadows K, sitting last, closed for third.
Owned by Dr. Robert Boyce and Joan Boyce, One Over Par, a five-year-old mare by Dragon Again out of The Panderosa mare Susie Girl, won her seventh race in 37 starts and her 22nd in 102 starts overall, earning $211,464. Trained by Stephanie Jamieson and driven by Anthony Haughan, she paid $4.60 to win.
Strato Boy flew through the passing lane off a pocket trip to win by a head in the $11,500 Preferred Handicap Pace in 1:56.2.
Evasive Card Shark took control, leading through a :27.3 opening quarter. Lets Wait And See, positioned third, edged first over into the stretch, pressuring the leader through a half of :57.1 and through three-quarters in 1:26 before stalling around the final turn. Strato Boy dove to the passing lane into the stretch, challenging leader Evasive Card Shark approaching the line and narrowly overtaking the pacesetter to win. Uf Bettors Hanover, coming into contention through a rail trip, snuck into third.
Paying $10.00 to win, Strato Boy, a five-year-old gelding by Allies Western out of the Pro Bono Best mare Hamptonsunsashable, won his fifth race in 41 starts and his 11th in 95 overall, earning $104,124. He's owned by Tonya Backus, trained by Mike Stoikopoulos, and was driven by Jason Ryan.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.