Champagne Phil was a strong leader throughout the $11,000 Preferred 2 Pace at Georgian Downs en route to a 1:51.1 victory in rein to Alfie Carroll on Sunday night (June 25).
With the inside post advantage, the Dean Nixon trainee took command off the gate with the fast-leaving McKinney settling for the pocket spot from post four. Champagne Phil fired off a :26.3 quarter and raced on to the half :54.4 and three-quarters in 1:22.4 before closing out the mile with a :28.2 final frame to win by two and a half lengths. Totally Kissed (Scott Young) came on for second over Hot Deuce (Jonathan Drury), Weatherly (Paul MacKenzie) and McKinney (Bob McClure).
Champagne Phil, who was collared late in the mile last week by Make Some Luck (a non-factor seventh this time out racing from the backfield), was sent postward as the 1-2 favourite and didn't disappoint his backers. He paid $3.10 to win.
His 31st career win pushed his bankroll over the $400,000 mark for owner ICR Racing of Pefferlaw, Ont. The seven-year-old Shanghai Phil gelding has earned five of those wins and $53,745 in purses this year.
The $7,500 Preferred 3 was won by 3-5 favourite Musselsfrmbrussels (Bob McClure), who took the lead turning for home and held off No Bu (Scott Young) by a head in 1:53.1. Trainer Richard Moreau recently claimed the nine-year-old son of Modern Art for $30,000 with Aristi Varsakis and Fred Handelaar. The win was the pacer's 10th of the season from 21 starts.
In other action, Seaspray Stables' homebred two-year-old pacing filly Sea Shadows won at first asking, leading all the way to a five-length victory in 1:55.4. Paul MacKenzie drove the Shadow Play-Cameron D Art filly, who is co-owned by Michael Timpano and trained by Gary Durbano.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.