Smith engineers form reversal for first career win

Heartbeatnsizzle (Riverboat King) produced an upset win at Flamboro Downs on Saturday (Oct. 1) after 37 consecutive losing starts to give trainer Malik Smith his first career harness racing win.

A large group of leavers left the mare sixth as the field completed the first quarter in :28.2. J. Bradley Harris shifted the mare onto cover as they hit the halfway point in :58.4 and sat third-over until fanning three-wide on the backstretch.

Heartbeatnsizzle progressed three-high and was abreast of leader Lilys Penelope (Austin Sorrie) and the first-over Queen Me Again (Brett MacDonald) as they clashed into the final turn. She eclipsed Queen Me Again at the head of the lane and put away Lilys Penelope in mid-stretch to take the victory in 1:58.4.

Buttercup Will (Nick Boyd) shot up the inside, narrowing the margin to three-quarters of a length as she took second. Queen Me Again held third in a tough effort.

HEARTBEATNSIZZLE REPLAY

Heartbeatnsizzle had missed a cheque in five straight starts and hadn’t won since October 2019 before the turnaround score. Smith began training the six-year-old, a six-time winner in 88 starts, in the Spring. She made her first start for the Brampton-based trainer in May and went 11 tries before Saturday’s win. Wayne Smith owns the mare who has now earned $36,193.

Smith’s first start came with Flashcallthejudges in February; the colt raced nine times for him and did not hit the board.

A single Ontario Sires Stakes Gold contest highlights Flamboro Downs’s next program on Sunday, Oct. 2 with a 6:55 p.m. EDT first post.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink