Stonebridge Nitro hitting top gear

Stonebridge Nitro motored in the final quarter for her third straight harness racing win on Tuesday at Flamboro Downs and ascended to second in the Prospect Series standings in the final regular season round.

The daughter of Muscle Mass, after starting sixth, moved third-over at the half for Robert Shepherd and exploded three-wide entering the final turn. She swiftly soared by two battling leaders and coasted to a 1:59.3 victory.

She won the day’s sole division for three-year-old trotting fillies and improved her career record to four-for-19. Melissa Lamoureux has leased the filly for the season; she also trains her.

Radical J J (Ryan Desroche) won the aforementioned fight for second. Top Of The Bar (Mark Etsell) finished third.

STONEBRIDGE NITRO REPLAY

Three-year-old colt trotters also completed their Prospect Series regular seasons. Every horse in the top seven of the standings lost, resulting in a shakeup of the standings.

Arch Hall, a previous Grassroots contender, got a pocket trip after losing the top spot in the second panel but reversed the earlier overtake by passing the leader in the final eighth of a mile for the first split win in 1:59. Mike The Knight (Ryan Holiday) finished second after also passing Defcon Seelster (Guy Gagnon), who easily held third. Paul Mackenzie drove the winning son of Archangel for trainer Blake MacIntosh, who co-owns with Hutt Racing Stable and Jean-Chrisophe Plouffe. The gelding’s win was his first of the season and fourth of his 19-start career.

ARCH HALL REPLAY

Johnny Ping jumped to the front early and combated challenges from the midway point for his second consecutive win. He held off Get To The Pointe (Wayne Henry), who closed at the pylons and out-sprinted third-place finisher Moscow Moon (Desroche). Johnny Ping, a Johnny William gelding, is three-for-19 lifetime. Dagfin Henriksen drives and trains him with fellow part-owners Brett Anderson, Kyle Anderson, and Barry McClennan. Brett and Kyle Anderson bred the gelding.

JOHNNY PING REPLAY

Ranger Rob, after sitting in the three-hole on the backstretch, lunged four-wide on the far turn and passed four opponents in the last eighth of the mile to win by a short nose in 2:00.3. P L Oscar (Colin Kelly), who was three-wide turning for home, was nosed out and received the place cheque. Insanity (Jean Rene Plante) was a half length back in third. Ranger Rob is now two-for-nine lifetime after scoring in each of his past two starts. Ryan Holliday drives for trainer David Holliday, who bred and owns the Angus Hall colt with Ben Holliday.

RANGER ROB REPLAY

The Prospect Series finals are slated for Friday, Sep. 24 at Grand River Raceway.

Flamboro Downs hosts racing again on Thursday, Sep. 16. First post is set for 6:35 p.m. EDT.

For full Prospect Series standings, click here.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink