CAMPBELLVILLE, July 11 – Returning to Mohawk after a pair of stakes engagements south of the border, Flanagan Memory turned in a stunning harness racing performance Monday night.
A field of seven competed in the $34,000 Preferred Trot with Flanagan Memory headlining the field as the heavy 1/5 favourite.
Driven by Chris Christoforou, Flanagan Memory made a second-quarter move to the front from third to overtake Whiskey Tax, who cut a big opening-quarter of :26.2. The public's choice grabbed command to post a half-mile clocking of :54.4.
After a third-quarter of :29, Flanagan Memory quick separated himself from his rivals at the top of the lane pulled cleared to big advantage. The Rene Dion trainee cruised home confidently in :27.3 to win by nine lengths in 1:51.2.
Whiskey Tax finished second, while the lone mare in field, Charmed Life, was third.
A six-year-old son of Kadabra, Flanagan Memory was making his Mohawk return Monday after finishing second in the Cutler Memorial at The Meadowlands on June 24 and third in the Hill Memorial at Scioto Downs on June 11.
The veteran trotter surpassed $1 million in career earnings for owners Liette Flanagan and Dion with his runner-up finish in the Cutler.
Flanagan Memory now has three wins in six starts this season and a 2016 bankroll of $125,200. The Dion trainee had only two wins last season, but banked nearly $300,000 in 15 starts.
Flanagan Memory, who now has 16 career victories, established a new career-mark with his 1:51.2 mile on Monday. The clocking also equaled Domitian Hall and Rubber Duck's national season's mark.
Live racing continues Tuesday night at Mohawk Racetrack. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
Mark McKelvie