JL Cruze found himself in the role of the tempo-setter in the Allerage Farms Open Trot, but Flanagan Memory found himself in the role of the winner when the dust settled.

Brian Sears rallied from out of the clouds to win the rich tilt with the Ontario Sires Stakes graduate, who matched his lifetime mark when he halted the teletimer in 1:51.2 for trainer/co-owner Rene Dion.

JL Cruze left hard from Post 8 and went on to hang up panels of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:24.1, but he couldn’t seal the deal. Sears, who was third-over with Flanagan Memory, flipped the switch coming off the final turn and the six-year-old son of Kadabra-Classy Stacy roared home to post the win in convincing fashion over Crazy Wow and JL Cruze.

Liette Flanagan of Repentigny, QC shares ownership on the homebred who improved this year’s record to 5-1-3 from 12 starts with the win. The 18-time winner, who is Canada’s representative to the upcoming International Trot at Yonkers Raceway, lifted his lifetime earnings to $1,222,779 with the victory.

(Standardbred Canada)