Flamboro: All Bets Off takes home the Confederation Cup

All bets seemed to be on the 3-5 favorite All Bets Off in the $226,575 Confederation Cup and he delivered for the Flamboro Downs faithful.

Leaving from post five, All Bets Off was looped by uncoupled stable mate Limelight Beach, who assumed command before the 26 2/5 opening quarter. After a brief aborted quarter-move by the pocket-sitting Ideal Cowboy, driver Matt Kakaley hustled All Bets Off to the front on the second turn.

Through fractions of 54 4/5 and 1:22 2/5, All Bets Off shrugged off a third quarter challenge from Ideal Cowboy and held off a fast closing Bettorever from fourth-over to secure the victory in 1:51 3/5.

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Big Boy Dreams rallied to be third behind Bettorever.

“I just kind of eased back to let Yannick (Gingras, Limelight Beach) go before making my move to the front,” said Kakaley on his strategy.

Some would consider All Bets Off a half-mile track specialist having won the bulk of his $911,425 over half-mile tracks as a 3-year-old, but assistant trainer Mickey Burke, Jr tossed aside that thought. “I think he’ll be fine everywhere we take him,” said Burke.

The Ron Burke trainee scored for the second time in three starts this year for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, Panhellenic Stable, and Estate of Rosemary Shelswell.

All Bets off increased his career earnings to over $1.2 million with the victory.

Formerly a race for the top 3-year-old pacers, the Confederation Cup was switched to a 4-year-old race in 2015 after a two year absence from the stakes calendar.