Canada's leading trainer, Richard Moreau, had another stellar night at the office, taking home three of the 11 races on the Sunday (Feb. 18) card at Flamboro Downs.
Moreau teamed up with driver Samuel Fillion to score his first victory of the night in the evening's third race, a fillies and mares $10,000 claiming conditioned pace. Starting from the second tier in the field of nine, Fillion struck the lead with Miss Dew Write by the quarter pole with a backside brush to that station in :27.4. Miss Dew Write had things her way through the middle half with fractional times of :57.1 and 1:26.1 with 2-5 favourite Ultimate Long Shot and Travis Cullen in hot pursuit from the pocket. The two separated themselves from the field turning for home as Ultimate Long Shot took her shot in the lane; however, Miss Dew Write dug in gamely with a :30.1 final quarter to score the victory by a neck in 1:56.2.
The victory was the second in five starts this season for the four-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Shes A Dewar, owned by Ecurie Francis Richard Inc and Gaston Bibeau. A nine-time career winner, Miss Dew Write pushed her lifetime earnings to $51,340 with the win.
Driver Brett MacDonald hopped in the bike to score Moreau's second win on the card aboard Sicario in the $10,000 non-winners of $75,500 lifetime trot. Saddled with the far outside post six, MacDonald hustled Sicario to the lead from the outset, striking the front through an opening quarter of :29. The 5-2 second choice continued to lead to the half in :59 before MacDonald put two lengths of separation on the field to three-quarters in 1:27.4. The 6-5 favourites, Impressive Dude and Jason Ryan, would close the gap on the turn before tipping out for the stretch drive, but Sicario proved strong on the lead with a :29.2 final quarter to fend off the late charge by a half length in 1:57.1.
The victory was the first of the season in five starts for the nine-year-old gelded son of Holiday Road-Gypsy Balance, owned by Pamela and John Hehn. It pushed Sicario's career bankroll over the $400,000 mark, as he has now banked $400,703 through his 205 career starts.
MacDonald was once again in the bike for Moreau for the conditioner's third victory of the night, scoring with Royal Regatta in $8,000 claiming company. Sent off at 1-5, Royal Regatta settled in third in the early stages as Beach Fire K and Austin Sorrie led a hot first fraction of :27.1 through the snow. Beach Fire K continued to lead to the half in :56.1 with Royal Regatta now underway from third to challenge the leader at three-quarters in 1:25. The battle between the leaders raged on the final turn before Royal Regatta was finally able to put away a stubborn Beach Fire K by just over a length in 1:56.2.
Owned by Normand Beausoleil, Royal Regatta earned his first victory of 2024 in his fifth outing. The nine-year-old gelded son of McArdle now sports a career bankroll of $271,395.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, please click the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)