Jetcrest held off favourites Excellence and Lexis D J to win the $7,500 Preferred 3 Trot on Saturday night at Flamboro Downs, completing a driving triple for Paul MacKenzie.
Driving wide around the first turn, 7-1 shot Jetcrest trotted on to overtake early leaver Osprey Vision by the :28.3 opening quarter. The six-year-old Pegasus Spur gelding proceeded to lead the field through middle splits of :59.2 and 1:29.1 as Stolen Goods advanced first up and came within a neck of the front before being turned away around the final turn. Launching off that one's cover, Excellence rallied down the stretch to make it into the win photo, but Jetcrest found the wire just in time, prevailing by a neck in 2:00 flat. Lexis D J got up for third, just ahead of Osprey Vision.
Claimed for $12,000 on Feb. 8 at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Jetcrest earned his first win in his second start for his new connections of trainer Andrew Moore and owner Rick Berry of Gloucester, Ont. He's now earned two wins, two seconds and one third-place finish in seven races from three different barns this year.
Sent postward as the second longest shot in the field scratched down to seven, Jetcrest paid $17.70 to win.
In other action, the ultra-consistent six-year-old pacing mare American Grace ($3.40) earned her second straight win in a four-day span for trainer Patrick Shepherd and Platinum Stakes Mgt Inc. of Cambridge, Ont. She was a $6,250 claim a couple starts back on Feb. 6 at The Raceway at the Western Fair District for her current connections, but has won 10 of her last 11 races at the $5,000 claiming level dating back to November. Billy Davis Jr. sent her wire-to-wire again for a 1:59.2 win on Saturday night.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.