Statesman N looped the first quarter leader and then held him off down the stretch to win the $7,500 Preferred 3 Pace featured on Sunday night (March 13) at Flamboro Downs for trainer/driver Doug Brown.
Brown sent Statesman N off the gate from post three with High Flier (J Harris) leaving to their outside and crossing down in front for the early lead. However, Statesman N immediately reclaimed the top spot just past the :29.3 quarter-pole and cruised through middle fractions of 1:01 and 1:30.2. Sir Machalot (Lyle MacArthur), the 8-5 favourite, advanced first over and second chioce Half A Billion (Robert Shepherd) went three-wide off his cover in the backstretch, but neither could get close enough to seriously threaten Statesman N. Down the homestretch, High Flier did though as he closed along the pylons, ultimately missing by just a neck. Statesman N held on for the 1:58.2 victory over High Flier, with Half A Billion finishing one and a half length behind in third.
Statesman N paid $7.50 to win as the 5-2 third choice on the toteboard.
The nine-year-old Christian Cullen gelding earned his second win in Flamboro's Preferred 3 class this year since being purchased for $57,000 at the Meadowlands Mixed Sale by the Toronto-based Abbott Stables Limited. The New Zealand-bred pacer, who competed regularly at Yonkers prior to the sale, is now a 29-time winner with career earnings of $524,742.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.