Driver Ed Hensley took Toot Toot N to the top and held off Fine Diamond's first-over bid to take the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace in 1:53.2 at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, March 24.
The eight-year-old Gotta Go Cullen gelding cleared command from post four in the five-horse field. He led unchallenged through fractions of :27.2 and :57 while Fine Diamond, sitting third, prepared to tip off the rail approaching three-quarters. Past that station in 1:25.2, Fine Diamond dug into Toot Toot N through the lane but finished three-quarter lengths shy of victory on the wire. Pretty Handsome, sent the 1-9 favourite, finished third.
Owned by Ed Hensley and trainer Ashleigh Hensley, Toot Toot N won his second race from 10 starts this season and his 20th from 93 overall, earning $138,930. He paid $7.50 to win.
Absolut Seelster followed suit two races later to take the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot going wire to wire in 1:57.3. The Benoit Baillargeon trainee led through splits of :28.1 and :58 before facing first-over pressure from favourite Revenue Agent passing a 1:27.1 third quarter. The six-year-old Angus Hall mare turned the challenge away coming for the wire and finished a length better than pocket-rider Its Huw You Know with Bred For Greatness closing for third.
Winning her second race from seven starts this season and her 23rd from 97 overall, Absolut Seelster races for owners thomas and Elizabeth Rankin and has earned $218,202. Scott Young steered the $6.70 winner.
Sandwiched to the two features on the card, Rocky J Squirrel won the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace by two-and-a-half lengths in 1:55.2. Driver Louis-Philippe Roy secured the pocket from post one while Paparazzi Hanover took command and posted fractions of :28 and :57.4. Roy soon circled the Richard Moreau trainee to the lead approaching the 1:25.4 third quarter and kicked clear of his competition into the stretch. About A Boy closed for second while favourite Fool Me Once chased from third.
A four-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, Rocky J Squirrel races for owner Adolf Tomas. The $6.30 winner won his first race from eight starts this season and his seventh from 38 overall, compiling $57,798 in earnings.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.