Kennel Buddy rallied wide off cover turning for home and glided by the popular pacesetter to win the $7,500 Preferred 3 Trot on Sunday night at Flamboro Downs.
The five-year-old son of Ken Warkentin advanced from sixth, following live cover as the field headed in front of the grandstand after the first lap and then fanning wide for a clear path to victory the final time down the stretch. He defeated the front-stepping Dragin The Wagon, who was parked for most of the :28 first quarter contest and kept first over Order By Commander at bay through middle splits of :58 and 1:27.4. Dragin The Wagon edged out pocket-sitter Holy Molie Maggie for runner-up honours two and a half lengths behind the 1:58.2 winner while Order By Commander finished back in fourth.
The win was the fifth in 14 starts this year for Kennel Buddy, who is trained by David Dowling for owner Allan Neal of Grand Bend, Ont.
The class-dropping gelding was sent off as the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.70 to win.
Travis Henry drove Kennel Buddy and came right back to win the finale with favourite Intended Style ($3.50) for a sweep of the late Daily Double, which paid $23.70.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.