When his favoured stablemate broke stride on the final turn, Muscle Matters stole the spotlight in Sunday's featured $11,500 Preferred 2 Trot at Flamboro Downs.
With Scott Coulter in the sulky, Muscle Matters notched his third win of the year from seven starts for trainer Ben Baillargeon and co-owners Nunzio Vena, Santo Vena and Richard Thompson.
Leaving from post six, 6-5 favourite Charlie Is A Joker had forged on to clear Musical Spell after a :27.1 first quarter duel while Muscle Matters got away in third-place. After a :56.2 half, Muscle Matters advanced first-up and they passed three-quarters in 1:26.1. Coming up on the eventual breaker, Muscle Matters inherited the lead and trotted on to victory while Noble Legend fanned three-wide off cover and missed by just a neck in the 1:57 mile. Wildwild Men closed inside and his sibling Seeyou Men rallied on the far outside to finish third and fourth, respectively.
The early action was called into question as a judges' inquiry was launched following the race. Muscle Matters had travelled inside two consecutive pylons in the first turn, but judges ruled it was no fault of his own as Musical Spell had forced the issue.
Deemed the official winner, the seven-year-old Muscle Mass-Sister Mary Lindy gelding returned $6.60 to his backers at the betting windows.
Earlier on the card, Quebec champion Half A Billion ($3.80) earned his first win of the season in an $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace. Robert Shepherd drove the six-year-old Sportswriter-Racey Date gelding to the two-length victory in 1:56.1 for trainer Corey Giles and partners Michel Letarte, Francois Letarte and Jean Allaire.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.