Striking Lindsey and Hitithard won their respective Bud Light Stakes divisions for three-year-old trotting colts featured on the Friday program of racing at Flamboro Downs
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In the first $43,742 division, Striking Lindsey survived a first-over journey to prevail in 1:58.3 in rein to Randy Fritz.
The Gregg McNair pupil watched from third as Kilted Pride (Paul MacKenzie) and Stormont Caviar (Garrett Whelan) battled for the top spot through a :28.3 opening quarter. Kilted Pride won the duel with the inside advantage and he took the field to the half :58.3 before Striking Lindsey rolled up for the challenge and poked his head in front just before the three-quarter marker in 1:28.2. As Striking Lindsey established command of the field and turned for home, the second-over Magic Spice (Jody Jamieson) was gearing up, but Striking Lindsey reached the wire first for the score by half a length. Kilted Pride finished for third.
The son of Striking Sahbra notched his first win of the season in three outings for Kenneth Sommer of Sheffield, Ohio. The bay won his Bud Light Stakes division last year as well as an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final and banked $258,496.
The second $42,987 division went to Hitithard and driver Jody Jamieson in a time of 1:58.1.
Sir Winston (Randy Fritz) and Hitithard took advantage of their inside post positions leaving quickly off the gate, but Hitithard made a miscue on the outside as the pair approached the first quarter in :29.1. The Mr Lavec colt dropped back to third, but quickly recovered and pressed on to take control of the field. He carved out the remaining panels of :58.3 and 1:28.1 en route to victory lane. Play Right (Paul MacKenzie) finished a length back in second while Sir Winston finished third.
Hitithard is trained by John Ciarpelli for Anne Della Maestra of Waterdown and Faye Antoniou of Waterloo, Ont. The win was his second in four starts this year giving him over $57,000 in winnings. Hitithard won two out of nine races and earned $77,400 during his freshman campaign.
In other action, driver Robert Shepherd returned to the bike after suffering a broken leg in the Ontario Boys Pacing Series Final accident on March 2 at Woodbine Racetrack aboard Rust Belt. It didn’t take the resident of Cambridge, Ontario long to return to winning form as he guided Miss Eloise (1:59.1, Race 5) to victory for Blake MacIntosh in his second pari-mutuel start back.
To view Friday's results, click here.