The trip was sweet and the end result was even sweet for Ufdragons Rocket in Sunday’s $11,000 Preferred 2 for horse and gelding pacers at Flamboro Downs.
Travis Henry worked out a second-over trip for Ufdragons Rocket, and the Richard Moreau student got up late to register the triumph in 1:54.4.
Mckinney worked his way to the lead at the quarter in :27.1, and he went on to throw down middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.4. Saulsbrook Peach came first-over going to the half, and Ufdragons Rocket followed his every move from second-over. Henry called on the gelding to sprint in the lane, and he complied while using a :28.3 kicker to prevail by half a length over the dead game Mckinney. Taking home third prize was the race favourite, Saulsbrook Peach.
The seven-year-old son of Dragon Again-Pacific Monterey, who is owned by 5527920 Manitoba Ltd of Niagara On The Lake, Ont., won for the fifth time this season and for the 25th time in his career. He’s now racked up close to $270,000 in lifetime earnings.
Earlier on the card the photo finish equipment was called on to help decide a winner in the $7,500 Preferred 3 pace for horses and geldings, and after careful examination the Judges declared a dead heat for the top spot between Bestofthebunch and Half A Billion.
Race favourite Grin For Money shot to the top and sliced out splits of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.1, but he was overtaken late by Bestofthebunch and Half A Billion. Bestofthebunch emerged from the pocket spot and closed in :29.3 to nab a share of the win, while Half A Billion rallied from out of the clouds and used a :29-second closing panel of his own to earn the trip to victory lane. Grin For Money came up a head short in his quest to go down the road.
Lorne House mapped out the winning trip for Bestofthebunch, a five-year-old son of Artistic Fella-Terinas Best from the barn of Tim Myers. He trains the gelding for owner Boris Laus of South Woodslee, Ont. The 21-time winner is 6-for-15 this season. He’s just a few dollars shy of $150,000 in career earnings.
As for Half A Billion, it was Robert Shepherd who teamed the Corey Giles pupil to his sixth win of the year. The 11-time winner, who is owned by Giles and partners Michel Latarte, Francois Letarte and Jean Allaire, has banked more than $114,000 to date.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Flamboro Downs.