Shamballa used his customary closing speed to earn his fourth consecutive victory in the $34,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night.
Shamballa matched his fastest final quarter clocking of :25.2 as trainer/driver Rick Zeron launched the quick-closer off cover from the backfield in the stretch and he sprinted home to win in 1:50 flat.
Caught three-wide in an early :26.1 first quarter battle for the lead, post 10 starter Nirvana Seelster (Mike Saftic) pressed on to take over command from Evenin Of Pleasure (Sylvain Filion) while Luck Be Withyou (Luc Ouellette) took back to third. But down the backstretch, Evenin Of Pleasure retook the lead and reached the half in :54.4 and then three-quarters in 1:22.4 while the outer flow developed with Ultimate Beachboy (James MacDonald) stalling first over. Ideal Jet (Trevor Henry) rallied from second over into the stretch with Ellis Park (Randy Waples) closing behind him from third over. However, Shamballa, who was fourth over in eighth-place at the top of the stretch, made up his six and three-quarter length deficit with his late surge and prevailed by one and three-quarter lengths over Ideal Jet. Ultimate Beachboy edged out Ellis Park for third while Evenin Of Pleasure finished fifth.
Shamballa, who is now seven-for-10 on the season with earnings of $121,140, was the 2-1 favourite and paid $6.30 to win.
Zeron shares ownership of the Somebeachsomewhere gelding as part of the Rick Zeron Stables along with Tao Racing LLC.
The five-year-old pacer has 19 career wins in 38 starts and has banked over $250,000.
In other action, Intended Style extended his own win streak to five for his new owners. Driven by Anthony MacDonald for trainer Carmen Auciello, the 10-year-old No Pan Intended gelding took a new lifetime mark of 1:50.3 with his five and a quarter length romp in the $20,000-$30,000 claiming handicap. He was claimed by the Denarben Stables and Auciello Stables for $10,000 on June 30 at Mohawk after beginning his win streak in the Colin Johnson stable.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.