Driver Colin Kelly celebrated a milestone moment in Saturday night under the lights at Flamboro Downs, earning his 2,000th career win in the ninth race in rein to Azucar Jack.
A first-time Flamboro Downs starter, Azucar Jack ($5.30) took an immediate liking to the Dundas, Ont. half-miler and led wire-to-wire in the $6,800 conditioned-claiming pace while widening his lead to more than five lengths over favoured Hapuna Beach at the end of the 1:55.2 mile. The six-year-old Warrawee Needy gelding, who notched his 19th career win, is owned by trainer Thomas Hamm and breeder Joseph Carr.
For Kelly, the win was his 134th this year and his 2,000th since he launched his driving career in 2012. The Nova Scotia native, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Sunday, is on pace to record his seventh consecutive million-dollar season in the sulky.
It's been a week of milestones for the Kelly family with Colin's brother Dave hitting the 1,000-win mark last Saturday at Century Mile in Edmonton, Alta.
Saturday's Flamboro card featured the final leg of the Prospect Series for two-year-old filly trotters headlined by the Rod Hughes-trained Ms Kirsi (Scott Coulter), who led at every call for a maiden-breaking victory, and Sweet Swirl (Dave Boughton), a three-time Prospect winner who defeated division point leader Its Not My Vault, from the Don Lindsey stable. Both fillies won their respective $8,000 divisions in matching 2:01.3 miles. The Prospect Series freshman finals will be held on Oct. 11 at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada; Photo from a previous win)