Rise Up Now went wild fractions in Sunday’s $7,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers at Flamboro Downs, but Bali picked up the pieces and wound up taking home the lion’s share of the loot.
Just a field of four went postward, and despite the lack of starters there was no shortage of speed. Rise Up Now rocketed off the gate and sliced out serious splits of :26.1, :53.4 and 1:22.4 with Bali trying to keep tabs from the pocket position. Rise Up Now’s wheels started to wobble as the field moved around the final turn, and that allowed Robert Shepherd and Bali to make their move.
Bali looped around the leg-weary leader and used a 30-second closing panel en route to winning by half a length over race favourite Rise Up Now in 1:53.2. Monte Cristo was third.
Shane Weber trains the six-year-old son of Dali-Belvekia for Denise Auger of Trois-Rivieres, QC. The gelding has compiled a 2-3-4 record this season from 12 trips to the track. The 25-time winner has piled up career earnings of $123,482.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Flamboro Downs.