Back in the Carmen Auciello barn, Woodbine invader Delcrest Julian front-stepped his way to victory lane in the featured $11,000 Preferred 2 Trot at Georgian Downs on Sunday evening.
Delcrest Julian last raced from the Auciello stable on May 23 at Mohawk where he took his lifetime mark of 1:53.3. Anthony MacDonald drove the six-year-old son of Oaklea Julian this time out to a 1:56.1 triumph for owner Mitchell Hunter of Cambridge, Ont.
Gapped off the gate from post one, Delcrest Julian got away mid-pack, but MacDonald had him on the move early and worked to the top through a :28.3 opening quarter. The 8-5 second choice trotted on through middle splits of :57.2 and 1:26.2 and held off the pocket-pulling 7-5 favourite, Michelangelo (Phil Hudon), and Ramzan (Scott Coulter), who both finished less than a length behind.
Delcrest Julian earned his fifth victory in 16 starts this year while his 2014 earnings climbed over the $50,000 mark. He paid $5.10 to win.
Elmo Rockbottom ($8.80) won the $7,000 Preferred 3 by two and a quarter lengths over 5-2 favourite Aisling (Scott Coulter) in a career-best 1:54.4 with Phil Hudon driving for trainer/owner Leonard Rosene of Toronto.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.