The two-year-old trotting colts will kick off the 2021 Prospect Series finals at Grand River Raceway on Friday, Sept. 24 and local trainer John Holding is hoping Arch Ruler can deliver another top-two effort.
“He was racing good for the people we bought him off and he’s racing good for us. I expect he’ll be close,” said Kitchener, Ont. resident Holding, who shares ownership of Arch Ruler with Morley Bosomworth of Elora, Ont. “He’s a nice colt. He’s a little feisty at times, but I love him. He’s one of the nicest horses we’ve bought in a while.”
Fergus, Ont. resident Bruce Richardson will steer Arch Ruler from post six in the $15,000 final, hoping to map out a trip behind early favourites Sir Ballykeel and Serenade Street, who will be firing out of posts three and four. The pair has been no worse than second since Holding and Bosomworth purchased Arch Ruler in mid-August, winning an overnight event at Grand River Raceway on August 30 and finishing second in the September 4 and 11 Prospect Series legs. While racing out of the Ben Baillargeon barn, the Archangel son tested his skills against the Grassroots colts, finishing ninth, third and fourth in the first three legs.
“He was never on a half-mile track until we got him because where Baillargeon trains there’s no half-mile -- it’s a five-eighths -- so that was a concern, but he did it quite well,” said Holding, who may head back to the larger oval with the colt after Friday’s final. “He’ll get at least a couple more starts. We might take him to Mohawk [and] see what he’s like down there.”
The two-year-old trotting colts will square off in the third race on Friday’s card, which gets under way at 6:30 p.m. Holding will also send out Darling Please from post two in the three-year-old trotting filly final in Race 9, but said the Merchandiser daughter’s inability to hustle off the gate will hamper her chances at earning a share of the $15,000 purse money.
The other Prospect Series finals go postward as Races 4 through 10 and owner/trainer Matt Dupuis is hoping P L Oliver can score his second straight win from post one in the sixth race. The three-year-old pacing colt was a handy winner in his September 11 Prospect Series division at Hanover Raceway and Dupuis said the Sportswriter son has been on his toes this week.
“He’s got the rail. I was happy when I [saw] that. He’s feeling really good [this week],” said the Rockwood, Ont. resident. “He trained good yesterday, so he should give a good effort.”
In addition to the win, P L Oliver recorded a second and third in Prospect Series action this summer. Through 13 sophomore starts, the consistent colt boasts a record of three wins, five seconds and four thirds for earnings of $31,903.
“He’s lazy, but when somebody comes to him then he’ll take off again,” said Dupuis. “He won’t give any extra.”
Guelph, Ont. resident Jason Ryan will steer P L Oliver on Friday, looking to double up with the colt. Division point leader Big Teddy will start from the trailing post eight, two-time Prospect Series winner Pretty Boy Duke gets post three and reigning division champion Sauble Attack will be looking to defend his Prospect Series title from post four.
Fans will be able to download a program and watch the live stream on Grand River Raceway’s website.
To view Friday's complete harness racing entries, click on the following link: Friday Entries - Grand River Raceway.
(With files from OSS)