Regal upset from Esquire

​Esquire was sent off at 21-1 in the Georgian Downs Preferred 2 Trot on Saturday, but the gelding proved best in a hardworking lifetime-best harness racing victory.

Driver Colin Kelly found Esquire a spot in fourth from post seven in a :28 first quarter mile but promptly made a first-over move before the half in :57.3. Esquire gained consistently on the outside and took the lead from Power And Grace (Brett Macdonald) prior to hitting three-quarters in 1:25.3.

Esquire struggled to clear, allowing Power And Grace to put his nose back in front as they straightened for the wire. Serenity Cruise (Paul Mackenzie) drifted three-wide on the final turn, and the trio of contenders battled down the lane. A defiant Esquire produced another spurt, passing Power And Grace again with less than a 1/16th to go, and outlasted Serenity Cruise for the 1:54.4 score.

Serenity Cruise finished second-best and earned his place cheque over Power And Grace, who was third.

The Mark Goddard-trained Esquire earned his second win of the year in six starts. The eight-year-old son of Kadabra is 18-for-87 lifetime and has earned a total of $189,286. Brandon Guerra of Brantford owns.

Georgian Downs returns to action on Tuesday, Jul. 13 with a nine-race card that features three Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events. First post will be 7:15 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink