Five-year-old breaks maiden in 34th start

Play N Bad (Shadow Play) was racing good enough to collect his first lifetime victory on Thursday (Jan. 11) at Flamboro Downs after 33 winless attempts to start his harness racing career.

The five-year-old got to the front just before the quarter and cut :29, :59, and 1:28.2 fractions for Travis Cullen. Putting emphasis on his first taste of victory, the gelding kicked clear by four-and-a-quarter lengths and stopped the clock in 1:57.4.

PLAY N BAD REPLAY

Play N Bad had not hit the board since September 2023, 14 starts ago. He lost his first 33 attempts with six place finishes and a third. His earnings total $19,292 after the win. Nathan Harding trains the gelding for Jamie Parton of Rockwood.

The victory was part of a driving grand slam for Cullen, who also scored with Brodys Scrapper (Mach Three, 1:56.3), Yourtheone (Shanghai Phil, 1:56.1), and D A Lunchbox (Shadow Play, 1:58.1).

Belechick (Artspeak) won the ninth race on the same day his namesake, NFL head coach Bill Belichick, announced his departure from the New England Patriots after 24 seasons. The horse went wire-to-wire for his second straight victory in his first start for trainer Jared Mann. Belichick, who has more wins in the NFL playoffs (31) than the horse has on the racetrack (16), left the team after finishing the season 4-13. Belechick the horse went three-for-27 last year but has won two of his three races so far in 2024.

The next card at Flamboro Downs is set for Saturday, Jan. 13.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink