Odds-on favourite Artofficial Flavor inherited the lead from post one and continued on the lead through the wire to win the $11,500 Preferred 2 Pace in 1:54 on Sunday, Sept. 16 at Flamboro Downs.
Bob McClure steered the Dean Nixon-trained four-year-old gelding by Art Official to the lead into the first turn, leading Champagne Phil and Toot Toot N through a :29.1 opening quarter and :58.3 half. Toot Toot N launched a first-over challenge into the backstretch approaching the final turn but, following a 1:26.4 third-quarter, began his retreat. Artofficial Flavor maintained his advantage to the line with Champagne Phil taking second and Scouts Report passing Toot Toot N for third.
Owned by Dean Nixon, Jeralene Roland, Michael Gillis and Justin Nixon, Artofficial Flavor, collecting $86,233 in earnings, won his fourth race in 13 starts this season and his 11th in 34 overall. He paid $3.60 to win.
Also wiring the field as the favourite from the rail, Sing Like An Angel took the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace by three-and-a-half lengths in 1:53.4.
The Jodie Cullen trainee led Gottalovemyshadow as she shot from post six into the pocket. She paced unchallenged on the lead through a :27.3 opening quarter and a :56.3 half. Howmacfiesty, positioned fifth, angled off the rail moving to lap two and carried Traffic Jam into contention second over while Sing Like An Angel still held a two-and-one-quarter length lead by three-quarters in 1:24.4. Traffic Jam fanned wide rounding into the stretch and took second as Sing Like An Angel coasted to the finish. Frog Pond Princess, riding the rail, moved through the open stretch for third.
Owned by Jodie Cullen, Sing Like An Angel, an eight-year-old mare by Bettors Delight, won her third race in 16 starts this season and her 51st in 172 overall, earning $354,766. Travis Cullen drove the $5.00 winner.
Riding the pocket, Imsporty overtook temposetter Fool Me Once to win by a half length in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace.
Fool Me Once led the field past the quarter in :27.2 as Imsporty edged into the two hole. Undrafted, from fifth, tipped first over heading to the half, timed in :56.3, and parked while Fool Me Once paced to three-quarters in 1:24.2. The odds-on favourite remained on the lead into the stretch but Imsporty rallied through the passing lane to catch Fool Me Once at the wire. Undrafted finished a length back in third.
A five-year-old gelding by Sportswriter, Imsporty, owned by Percy Elkins, won his seventh race in 31 starts and his 17th in 99 overall, earning $222,694. Travis Henry drove the Carmen Auciello trainee and paid $18.00 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs