After a five-win performance at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon, driver Bob McClure headed to Georgian Downs for the evening program and his productive day continued as he won the featured $7,500 Preferred 3 Trot with longshot Ramzan.
Ramzan ($28.30) was overlooked at odds of 13-1 as he had made breaks and pulled up in a pair of previous races at Mohawk Racetrack after competing at Pompano Park for the first few months of the year. However, Ramzan was on his best behaviour tonight and earned his sixth win of the season from 14 starts.
Favourite Groovey Kid drove on to take over the lead from Stormont Kate past the :27.4 first quarter and he trotted on to the half in :56.3. Meanwhile, McClure sent Ramzan first over from fourth and edged ahead of Groovey Kid at three-quarters in 1:26 with Cousin Eddie fanning wide off cover to his outside. Stormont Kate followed Ramzan and came through between horses to battle him down the stretch, but ultimately came up a neck short. Ramzan prevailed in 1:56.1 over Stormont Kate while Cousin Eddie finished nearly four lengths behind in third.
Ramzan is owned and trained by Wayne Laviolette of Dunrobin, Ont.
The win was the first half of a driving double on the 10-race card for McClure. The 24-year-old reinsman's seven Sunday wins puts his seasonal win total at 180, which ranks second in all of Canada behind Alfie Carroll's 247.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.