An early break of the favourite in the $13,900 Alliance Series Final for pacing horses and geldings at Flamboro Downs wasn't what the chalk players were after but it was music to the ears for those backing Podge.
Racing for the first time from the Corey Johnson stable, Podge was hustled out of Post 7 by driver J Harris to the front of the nine-horse field. Podge landed on the lead over Littlebitofabrat (Robert Jenkins Jr.) heading into the backstretch, then fronted the field through fractions of 26.3, 56.3 and 1:25.1 before digging deep to hold off a hard-charging Cedar Dunes (Travis Henry) by a half-length in 1:57.1 Littlebitofabrat stayed for show.
Favoured Southwind Monty made a break heading into the first turn for driver Bob McClure and was never in contention.
Podge (The Panderosa - Four Starzzzz Hope) was plucked from last week's Alliance second leg by Johnson and co-owner Michael Goldberg of Toronto, Ont. He's now won six of 17 starts as a sophomore, good for $33,000-plus in purses.
After capturing a Preferred 3 at Western Fair in his last outing, Hldontghttoyurdrms stepped up to Flamboro's Preferred 2 class and was victorious in that $11,000 test. Travis Henry guided the Richard Moreau trainee to a first-up and going-away score, a winner by a length and three-quarters in 1:58.1 over Platoon Seelster (Ryan Holliday). Frank Spagnolo of Ottawa owns the seven-year-old trotter, now a 25-time winner in his career.
Earlier on the card Flamboro honoured 14-year-old trotter Putt Putt, who was making his final start after 12 seasons and 394 career starts. The son of Keystone Nordic - Nicoles Sister retires with 31 wins and purses just shy of $228,000.
To view the results from Flamboro's Thursday card, click the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.