Odds-on favourite The Joy Luck Club brushed to the lead past the half and coasted to a 1:56.4 victory in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace at Flamboro Downs on Saturday, Dec. 8.
Casino Classic led the field past a :29.3 opening quarter while Outlaw Imahotvixen sat the pocket. The Joy Luck Club sat fourth before driver Mike Horner pulled the Mark Horner trainee first over heading to a 1:00.1 half.
The Joy Luck Club held control into the backstretch while Sodwana Bay, tracking the leader's brush, chased from the pocket. Past three-quarters in 1:28.2, The Joy Luck Club owned a length lead on Sodwana Bay in the stretch while Outlaw Imahotvixen chased first over from third nearing the wire.
Owned by Mark Horner, R A W Equine Inc. and Gregg McNair, The Joy Luck Club won her fourth race in 24 starts this season and her 18th in 56 overall, earning $421,977. The four-year-old mare by Camluck paid $3.10 to win.
Sitting behind the pocket sitter, Southwind Ion slid to a 9-1 upset in the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace. Driver Colin Kelly positioned the four-year-old Sportswriter mare third behind pacesetter Uptown Woman approaching the first quarter in :28.1.
Favourite Hp Sissy, sitting second, circled to the lead before the :58.3 half and continued on the point under minimal pressure through a 1:27.3 third quarter. Uptown Woman vacated the pocket into the stretch and surged to the lead before being overtaken by Southwind Ion through the stretch in the 1:57 mile. Hp Sissy finished third.
Craig Gilmour trains the $20.70 winner for owner Steve Mihalic. Southwind Ion won her seventh race from 29 starts and her 14th from 65 overall, earning $140,089.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.