Arrakis racking up the wins

Arrakis tallied his fourth win in five weeks on Thursday with pocket-riding harness racing victory in the Flamboro Downs Preferred 2 Trot.

The Federal Flex gelding dropped into the third slot early but benefited from the pocket horse’s break and moved into second. Arrakis held position as Sicario (Austin Sorrie) freely set :28.2, :58, and 1:26 on the lead. Travis Cullen unleashed Arrakis from the pocket at headstretch, and the gelding chased down Sicario with a quick burst of speed for the 1:55.2 victory. Sicario was caught by a half length, finishing second. I Got The Looks (Robert Shepherd) was a length behind him in third.

ARRAKIS REPLAY

Arrakis has won four of his past five starts and five of nine under trainer and owner Francis Guillemette, all at the Preferred 2 level. The nine-year-old gelding is 26-for-190 lifetime and has earned $410,214.

Saulsbrook Jessie, a five-year-old Big Jim mare, captured the co-featured Preferred 2 pace later on the card. She hustled to the front in the first quarter for Brett Macdonald and headed her opponents through :27.3, :56.3, 1:24.3, and 1:53 splits en route to a 12-1 upset victory. It was her first win since Jul. 24. She has won 15 times and earned $144,476 in her 68 career starts. Ronald Macdonald trains her for Edward Gorc of Sudbury.

SAULSBROOK JESSIE REPLAY

Two fifth leg Prospect Series divisions for freshman trotters feature on Flamboro Downs’ next card, which is set for Saturday, Sep. 11 with a 6:35 p.m. EDT first post.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink