Thomas Riley sent out three winners on the Thursday, March 21 evening card at Flamboro Downs with Smooth Lou heading the action with a stellar performance in the $10,500 conditioned pace for horses and geldings.
Smooth Lou was very smooth in his conditioned class as he and Samuel Fillion teamed up for a gate-to-wire triumph, opening up with every panel. After controlling the tempo with splits in :28.1, :57.2 and 1:25, Smooth Lou cruised home to win by 8-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4 over Yourtheone (Travis Cullen) and Fout (Brett MacDonald).
Smooth Lou (Sweet Lou-Smooth Silver) is owned by Triple S Equine, Robert Woodburn and Ronald Woodburn. He recorded his fifth win in nine starts this year and 25th career tally from 83 starts. The eight-year-old gelding moved his bankroll to $230,865. As the heavily backed favourite, Smooth Lou returned $2.40 to win.
Speaking Of Art also drew post seven in his class, a claiming handicap worth $6,600, but that proved to be no problem as the Riley student gave the trainer his second win on the card. Following the pocket trip through panels in :27.3, :57.2 and 1:26.2, Speaking Of Art and Fillion made their move in the stretch, prevailing by a neck in 1:56.1 over pacesetting Devils Peak (Jason Ryan) and Artistic Pick (Scott Coulter).
A winner of 17 races from 79 starts, the seven-year-old Artspeak-Panagler gelding moved his career bankroll to $189,445. Amanda Riley co-owns Speaking Of Art with Barry McClennan as the gelding recorded his second straight triumph in five starts this year. The 2-1 bettors' choice returned $5.80 to win.
Dance Machine wrapped up the triactor of triumphs with a tough feat to get there. Scott Coulter and the Riley student got away sixth through panels in :27.3 and :56.2. En route to the three-quarters in 1:24.4, Dance Machine tipped to the outside, hitting three-wide at the third panel. With a :29.1 final panel, Dance Machine took the victory by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.3. Pacesetter Foxhunt (Daryl Thiessen) had to settle for second and Ideal Perception (Anthony Haughan) grabbed third.
Dance Machine (Royal Mattjesty-Daylon Tempo) is a seven-year-old gelding owned by Brett Riley. He earned his third win from 10 starts this season and his 11th career victory, moving his bankroll to $108,009. As the upset victor at 6-1 odds, he returned $14.50 to win.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)