Adkins Hanover has been nothing but perfect since joining the Joe Pereira stable, stringing together three straight Preferred victories this month at Flamboro Downs.
The six-year-old Western Ideal gelding took a lifetime mark of 1:51.4 with a wire-to-wire romp in Sunday evening's co-featured $11,000 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace.
Driven by J.R. Plante, the slight second choice Adkins Hanover ($4.50) shot off the gate from the outside post seven. He quickly opened up six and half lengths by the first quarter in :26.1 and almost doubled his leading margin by the :53.1 half-mile mark. Leading by over a dozen lengths down the backstretch, Adkins Hanover raced to three-quarters in 1:21.1 and then cruised home for the victory. Savage Seelster closed in on Adkins Hanover down the lane although the winner was still two and three-quarter lengths clear at the wire. Topcornerterror finished third.
Adkins Hanover now has six wins in 15 starts this year for owners William Gillan of Thorold, Ont. and Colin Densley Burrows of St. Catharines, Ont.
Co-favourite Spartan Victory ($6.50) also went wire-to-wire to win the co-featured Preferred 2 Trot for driver Ryan Holliday and owner/trainer Brad Pittock of London, Ont.
The eight-year-old Hard Rock N Roll gelding left sharply from post five and carved out panels of :28, :58 and 1:28 en route to the 1:58 victory by four lengths, with Can I Say coming first over for second and Buddy Hally finishing third off cover.
The win was Spartan Victory's third in his last four starts and sixth of the season from 17 races.
B N Bad ($15.20) and trainer/driver Travis Henry converted off a pocket trip to defeat favourite Mister X in the $7,500 Preferred 3 Pace in 1:55.2 while a pair of matching trotting divisions were won by front-steppers Hidden Identity ($10.90) and horseman Pat Hudon in 1:58.3 and Waikiki Hanover ($13.20) in 1:57.4 with Bob McClure in the sulky for trainer Alan Fair.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.