Despite being briefly headed with five-sixteenths to go, Woodbine invader Uptown Funk ($10.90) delivered a masterpiece in Wednesday evening's (Dec. 5) $8,400 top-class pace at Flamboro Downs, turning aside a second rival en route to a 1:55.3 score.
The three-year-old Shadow Play gelding, who broke maiden in an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots event in June, was sent to the fore by J.R. Plante from post 5 and had no trouble clearing Ferrarifever (Bruce Richardson) through a sharp :27.3 first quarter before pulling the pace back to a :57.3 half. Odds-on favourite Bit Of Luck (Alfie Carroll), who angled out from third nearing the race's midpoint, advanced steadily to head Uptown Funk midway up the backstretch but was rebuffed after forcing a quickening pace to three-quarters in 1:25.4.
After putting away the public choice, Uptown Funk outlasted an inside bid from Ferrarifever in the stretch, prevailing by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.3. Machlicious (Jonathan Drury) rallied belatedly from last in the six-horse field to take third.
Stephane Larocque trains Uptown Funk, now a four-time winner, for Colette Gallant and Shannon Flindall-Pellicciotta.
To view Wednesday's results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Flamboro Downs.