Richard Moreau trainee Sicario moved up into the $12,700 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot off a win in the Preferred 3 and claimed victory by going wire to wire in 1:56 at Flamboro Downs on Sunday, May 5.
The four-year-old Holiday Road gelding grabbed control from post four and posted a :28.3 opening quarter. Unchallenged through a :58.2 half, Sicario increased the tempo slightly as odds-on favourite Seeyou Men, pulling from fifth, advanced first over into a 1:27.2 third quarter and matched strides with the leader rounding the final turn. Sicario turned away Seeyou Men circling into the stretch and kicked to a length-and-a-quarter win while Seeyou Men held second and Absolut Seelster, fanning from second over, closed for third.
Owned by Rick Rier and Pamela and John Hehn, Sicario won his fourth race from 12 starts this season and his 13th from 42 overall, earning $119,341. Louis-Philippe Roy drove the $9.60 winner.
National Debt dove to a length victory in the co-featured $12,700 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace earlier on the card. The eight-year-old Allamerican Native stallion sat off pacesetter On The Virg, who led through fractions of :27, :55.1 and 1:23.2 while under slight pressure from Alexas Jackpot parked first over. Driver Robert Shepherd edged National Debt off the rail heading to the half, tipped three wide to pass Alexas Jackpot faltering and collared On The Virg through the stretch while holding off a late bid from eventual runner-up Fine Diamond in the 1:52 mile. On The Virg held third.
Winning his fourth race from seven starts this season and his 43rd from 142 overall, National Debt has earned $473,254. Colin Johnson trains the $6.40 winner for owner Francois Morin.
Thorn In Your Side sped on the front early and withstood late challenges to take the $9,400 Preferred 3 Pace in 1:52.2. Driver Marc St Louis Jr. launched the nine-year-old Mach Three gelding to the lead and posted fractions of :27 and :54.4 on the lead. Tero, sitting second, pounced on the slowing pacesetter moving to a 1:23.1 third quarter and stuck a nose in front moving to the final turn. Thorn In Your Side crept back to the lead moving into the stretch and extended his lead to two lengths nearing the wire over pocket-rider Paparazzi Hanover and Tero.
Returning $19.30 to win, Thorn In Your Side races for owner-trainer Clifford Mcguire. He won his 36th race from 186 starts, earning $369,153.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.