Crown Isle ($7.50) pushed his 2016 win count into the double-digits after fighting off the favourite in the $9,000 Preferred 3 Pace on Sunday night (May 22) at Flamboro Downs.
Alfie Carroll hustled Crown Isle, the 5-2 second choice on the toteboard, off the gate from the outermost post seven and crossed to command by the first turn into a 27-second opening quarter-mile. They proceeded to the half in :56 with the field following in single-file alignment before 6-5 favourite Saulsbrook Peach moved from third. Saulsbrook Peach went head-to-head with Crown Isle down the backstretch past three-quarters in 1:25. They continued to battle into the stretch with Crown Isle digging in to draw clear and Saulsbrook Peach ultimately throwing in the towel. Crown Isle prevailed by one and a quarter lengths in 1:55.4 while Statesman N and Mach It Big came on for second and third. Tero also edged by Saulsbrook Peach, who finished fifth.
Crown Isle now has 10 wins -- all but one at Flamboro -- from 18 starts this year while earning $34,680 in purses. Only three horses racing in North America have more wins in 2016: Alberta stakes star Counter Strike, recent Flamboro Preferred 2 winning mare Lucky Cocktail, and Pompano claiming mare Pacific Date -- each with 11 victories.
The eight-year-old Island Fantasy gelding was claimed for $12,000 on May 8 at Flamboro by Allard Racing Inc., and he now won has back-to-back Preferred 3s in the care of trainer Joe Pereira, although his win streak stretches back to four in a row. The popular pacer has been claimed four times this year for a total value of $31,500.
Kennel Buddy ($12.50) won the evening's $7,500 Preferred 3 Trot with Paul MacKenzie in the sulky for trainer David Dowling and owner Allan Neal.
The six-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding advanced first over from fourth coming off the turn towards the half-mile mark, which was clocked in :59.1. He worked past leader Rocky De Vie at the 1:28.3 third quarter station and trotted home to score his third win of the year in 1:57.4 with Me The Boss chasing one and a half lengths behind in second-place. Elegant Holiday finished third while Rocky De Vie ended up fourth.
Flamboro Downs also hosted the Alliance Spring Series for $12,000 claiming trotters. The two $6,000 divisions were won by mares Fair N Just ($28.40, Tyler Moore) in 2:02.4 for trainer Stephen Doyle and owner Jill Harris, and Duncan Brewer's Coca Jo ($11.10, Scott Young) in 2:02.1.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.