O'Brien Award finalist Power And Grace continued her winning ways in the new year for the father-son team of trainer Ron and driver Brett MacDonald, topping the trotters in the featured finale at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Friday night (Jan. 14).
The Raceway track record holder prevailed over her seven male rivals in the $14,300 Preferred 2 & 3 Handicap Trot, going the added distance of 1-1/16 miles in 2:07.4 on a -11 degree night in London, Ont.
Powering away from the gate from her assigned post six, Power And Grace cleared to command into the first turn and posted fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.3 along the way with pocket-sitter Wrap And A Hooey (Tyler Borth) proving to be her biggest threat late but still three-quarters of length away at the end. Sizzlen Hot Herbie (Natasha Day) rallied three-wide from the backfield to finish third as 6-5 favourite Scene A Magician (Garret Rooney) progressed first-up to no avail.
Sent postward as the 9-5 second choice after missing by a half-length to Sizzlen Hot Herbie in her season's debut on January 3, Power And Grace paid $5.90 to win.
The seven-year-old daughter of Holiday Road is coming off a nine-win season during which she banked more than $90,000 racing mostly on the Ontario B tracks for owners Hartel Maintenance Inc. and Lormer McClure of Guelph, Ont.
Power And Grace has been named a finalist for Canada's 2021 Older Trotting Mare of the Year at the O'Brien Awards, which will be featured virtually on standardbredcanada.ca on Sunday, Feb. 6.
Another trotting mare in the Friday night spotlight was Lass Shot ($2.90) as she extended her win streak to five, retaking the lead at the quarter and rebuffing her seventh race rivals on the way to a 2:02.4 victory for trainer/owner Britt Kennedy. Garrett Rooney drove the five-year-old homebred mare by Archangel to the 2-1/2-length victory over Playfull Elegance (Tyler Borth).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - The Raceway