Sunday night (September 24) was “Prime Time” at Flamboro Downs, with driver Bob McClure taking centre stage at the Dundas half-mile oval by way of six wins on the 10-race program.
The 27-year-old's dominant performance in the sulky was highlighted by a last-to-first win in the $11,000 Preferred 2 pacing event with veteran campaigner Boomboom Ballykeel ($3.50) and a gritty front-end score with Topville Cheetah ($5.50) in the $7,500 Preferred 3 for distaffers.
In the featured Preferred 2, carded as race six, Boomboom Ballykeel chased three-wide cover with five-sixteenths to go and lifted to the fore nearing head-stretch as the pace collapsed, drawing away to a 1:51.2 victory. McClure was patient from the outset with the six-year-old Mach Three entire, settling to the back of a compact field of five as Adore Him (Paul MacKenzie) used pole position to protect the lead through a :27 first quarter before being engaged in an extended duel by the first-over Rise Up Now (Louis-Philippe Roy) through middle sectionals of :54.1 and 1:22.2.
As Jake Loewen (Bruce Richardson) angled second-over to stalk the pressured pace with three-eighths to go, Boomboom Ballykeel likewise vacated the pegs to track cover and ultimately slipstreamed Jake Loewen’s three-wide move into the far turn. Jake Loewen pounced on dueling leaders with just under a quarter mile remaining, but was overpowered by Boomboom Ballykeel—a 1-1/2 length winner in the end—just above the eighth pole. Jake Loewen was all-out to hold second over Lets Wait And See (Colin Kelly), who escaped traffic up the open stretch to narrowly claim third.
Richard Moreau trains 27-time winner Boomboom Ballykeel, a Ballykeel Racing homebred.
Topville Cheetah parried sustained pressure for a 1:55 triumph in the Preferred 3 for pacing fillies and mares, carded as the night’s finale. McClure used inside position to protect the early lead with the five-year-old Dali mare before yielding to Amazing Control (Anthony Haughan) and immediately angling out to reclaim command upon entering the far turn on the first occasion. Topville Cheetah continued on to keep a first-over bid from McCovey Cove N (Jason Ryan) at bay for the final three-eighths of the mile, as well as a last-ditch effort from Amazing Control to gain up the open stretch. Topville Cheetah held by a diminishing neck for her 17th career win, while McCovey Cove N and Amazing Control checked in second and third respectively.
Steve Labonte trains Topville Cheetah for Erin McCleary and Gabriel Moreau.
McClure’s other wins came with Casimir Pardon Me ($4.70, 1:54.4), L Dees Luca ($2.30, 1:56.4), Macktwowilldew ($6.70, 1:53.2), and The Camel Express ($7.40, 1:56.2).
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Flamboro Downs.