Kevin McMaster earned his 2,000th training victory on Sunday night as Shipps Xpectancy held on to win the fifth race at Flamboro Downs.
Driven by Lorne House, nine-year-old pacer Shipps Xpectancy ($14.20) overtook favourite My Masterpiece at the half and then held off that rival in the stretch to win the $5,000 claiming pace by a quarter-length. The time of the mile was 1:58.4 over the "good" track. Foolish One finished three and a half lengths behind in third, with Wildcat Art fourth after challenging first over.
Nova Scotia native McMaster, 56, won his first race as a trainer in August 1994 with Lisas Reality at Inverness Raceway and went on to be named Canada's Trainer of the Year in 2000 -- the first of two consecutive years his stable won over 250 races and $4.3 million. To date, horses trained by McMaster have earned in excess of $30.1 million in purses.
In other action, Dont Say Goodby ($2.80) won the evening's $7,500 Preferred 3 Pace with Simon Allard aboard for trainer Charles Stewart and owner Derek Menchhofer.
The favourite waited for Mach Pride to circle three-wide to the front and then cleared that rival at the quarter-pole and never looked back. The seven-year-old Dontgetinmyway gelding won by a length in 1:59.1 over Mach Pride, with Fresh Dream coming on for third.
The win was his first this year after five starts at Woodbine Racetrack.
Flamboro Downs' Announcer Idol competition resumed on Sunday with Phil Perkins, Reporter/Anchor for CHCH TV, taking the mic for the call of the fourth race.
Breewood Bayou ($6.70) and driver Paul MacKenzie were victorious by five and a half lengths over Windemere Stanley, going wire-to-wire in 2:00, but the race got interesting when favourite Armada Seelster launched a first-over attack at the half.
"We got people making moves right now, but we still have Breewood Bayou in first-place," announced Perkins. "A close third-place is Armada Seelster trying to make a move...unsuccessful at this point...still going to be behind Windemere Stanley. We still have Breewood Bayou running by everybody else at this point in first-place as we make our way to the homestretch."
As Breewood Bayou rounded the final turn, he began to draw away from his competition. "Breewood Bayou looking like he's making his way to the finish line with a comfortable lead at this point," said Perkins as the Vernon Cochrane trainee took the field home.
Announcer Idol continues every Sunday night through March 22 before fan voting begins. The local media personality who receives the most votes for their race call will receive a donation to the charity of their choice.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.