Dave Boughton went to the front with Keystone Orion in Wednesday’s $11,000 Preferred 2 at Flamboro Downs, and the tandem didn’t look back en route to a 1:58.2 score in this week’s trotting feature.
Keystone Orion shot to the top from Post 1 and controlled the tempo through fractions of :28.3, :59 and 1:28.4. The five-year-old son of Angus Hall-Ozone Hanover then used a :29.3 closing quarter to seal the deal. He won by a length over Long Ago in 1:58.2, with Amigo Loco rounding out the top three in the eight-horse affair.
Don Lindsey of Fergus, Ontario owns and trains the OSS graduate, who won for the first time this season and the tenth time in his career. The lion’s share of the purse bumped the square gaiter’s career bankroll to $291,770.
The undercard also featured a set of $7,000 Preferred 3 events – one for pacing fillies and mares and another one for trotters.
Perfectly Royal turned a two-hole trip into a 1:57.3 tally in the $7,000 Preferred 3 tilt for pacing fillies and mares. J.R. Plante tripped her out behind Macho Chick, who threw down panels of :28, :58 and 1:27.3. Perfectly Royal used a :29.4 final frame to rally to the head decision over Farmers Tuition, with Macho Chick finishing a lapped-on third.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Perfectly Royal won for the first time this season for trainer Joe Pereira. The 23-time winner, who is owned by 6824871 Canada Inc of Gatineau, Quebec, pushed her lifetime earnings over $150,000 in the process.
Heres The Magic front-stepped to a 1:59.4 score for driver Alfie Carroll in the Preferred 3 for trotters. The Victor Puddy pupil led the field through intervals of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:29.3 before using a :30.1 kicker to win by three-quarters of a length over Osprey Vision, with Fiery Manes taking home the show dough.
Keith Cassell of Smiths Falls, Ontario owns the five-year-old son of Kadabra-Blackberry Hanover, who returned $8.30 to his backers. It was second win of the season in five tries for the career winner of $280,066.
To view results for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Flamboro Downs.