Favourites Deliver At Flamboro

Published: February 5, 2017 08:10 pm EST

Post-time favourites Champagne Phil and Regal Luck wired their rivals in Sunday night's co-featured $7,500 Preferred 3 events at Flamboro Downs.

Driven by Scott Coulter, Champagne Phil delivered as the heavy 1-5 favourite in his return to the Preferred 3 class for male pacers.

Leaving from post four, Champagne Phil took the lead after the first turn and carved out panels of :27.3, :57.4 and 1:26 en route to a two-length victory in 1:54.1. Woggy Rocks (Scott Young) followed in second while Bali (Bob MccLure) advanced first-over to show.

The class-dropping Shanghai Phil gelding last won this class from the trailing tier post at the start of the year. He paid $2.60 to win and is now two-for-five on the year for trainer Dean Nixon and ICR Racing.

A couple of races later, Regal Luck turned back fellow 9-5 co-favourite Bestulldotanite to win the fillies and mares division in rein to Paul MacKenzie.

Regal Luck established the lead from post two ahead of Choose My Jet (J Harris) with outside leaver Pretty Hot (Alfie Carroll) securing a spot in third through a :27.3 opening quarter. Bestulldotanite (Robert Shepherd) launched her attack from fourth coming off the turn towards the half while Regal Luck continued to lead past that :58 middle marker and on to three-quarters in 1:26.1, eventually rebuffing her challenger's first-over bid to score in 1:55.3. Choose My Jet rallied from the pocket to hold onto second-place while Pretty Hot followed in third.

Regal Luck earned her first win of the year following three top-three placings in the Preferred 3 and paid $5.60 to win. The homebred Stonebridge Regal mare is owned and trained by John Smith Jr.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.

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