Despite being headed through much of a third-quarter duel, the unwavering Casino Classic ($9.90) held her ground to prevail in 1:56.3 in Wednesday evening’s (June 6) featured $11,500 Preferred 2 Pace for fillies and mares at Grand River Raceway.

Ryan Holliday put Casino Classic in play from the outset, but the pair was flanked by fellow leavers Southwind Ion (Phil Hudon) and Miss Brandi K (Scott Coulter) on approach to the first turn. Miss Brandi K retreated to third midway on the first turn, but Casino Classic had to exert herself to clear Southwind Ion before reaching the backstretch. The four-year-old Classic Card Shark mare controlled early splits of :28.4 and :58.3 before Request For Parole (Ed Hensley) – who was parked from race’s outset — mounted a first-over blitz and stuck her head in front with three-eighths to go.

Undeterred after being forced through a :29 third quarter, Casino Classic outlasted Request For Parole’s onslaught and reclaimed the lead at head-stretch, but her early challenger Southwind Ion now proved the main danger up the open stretch. Ultimately, Casino Classic kept Southwind Ion at bay by a long neck, while the mildly fading Request For Parole held third.

Robert Manders trains 14-time winner Casino Classic for Richard and Keith Manders.

In the $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot, Magic Night ($4.70) notched a pillar-to-post, 1:59.1 score over even-money favourite Fork. Scott Young kept the four-year-old Kadabra gelding to task through the final quarter en route to his fifth career win for trainer Susie Kerwood and owner Tommy Andersson.

The $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace for mares saw Alberta invader Outlaw Imahotvixen ($5.80) circle three-wide off the home turn to narrowly collar pacesetter Pinky Tuscadero in 1:57.1. Scott Coulter drove the four-year-old Blue Burner mare to her eighth career win for trainer Jodie Cullen, who co-owns with Ron Cullen.

To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.