A pair of Preferreds, each worth an $11,000 purse, were the co-features on the Monday, July 8 evening card at Grand River Raceway with Marvin Hagler successful in the Preferred 2 Trot and Boston Bound a gate-to-wire victor in the Preferred 2 Pace.

Brett MacDonald and Mark Macquarrie-trained Marvin Hagler were first up in the Preferred 2 Trot. Leaving out of the gate, Marvin Hagler got away third with The Great Reset (Lorne House) setting the tempo through the quarter in :27 and half in :57.3. Insanity (Jason Ryan) followed in second and Marvin Hagler idled in third until after the half mile marker, sweeping around the leading duo to take over. Marvin Hagler opened up by two lengths at the three-quarters in 1:26.2 and had a three length jump on the field going into the stretch. With a :29.3 final split, Marvin Hagler went on to win by two lengths in 1:56, a career best for the gelding. Insanity nabbed second and Heavy Dude E (Ryan Desroche) got up for third.

Marvin Hagler (Crazed - Showmeyourmuscles) is a five-year-old gelding owned by Mary Pedden and Mark Macquarrie for his fifth win in 17 starts this season and 21st win from 74 lifetime starts. His new lifetime mark mile win pushed him to $162,392 in career earnings. As the 2-1 bettors' choice, he paid $5.40 to win.

Jason Ryan sent Boston Bound to the top in the featured pace, never looking back through fractions In :26.1, :55.4, and 1:23.2. Unchallenged and undeterred, the Marie Helene Dupont student won by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:52. Arties Ideal (Samuel Fillion) finished second with Sportsline (J Harris) third.

Boston Bound (Boston Red Rocks - Ashleeswayrhighway) is a four-year-old horse owned by Ecurie Csl and Marie Helene Dupont. He earned his first win in 10 starts this year and his 10th career tally from 40 starts, yielding $170,180 in lifetime purse earnings. He returned $5.00 to win as the 3-2 favourite.

Six Prospect Series, each worth an $8,000 purse, for freshman male and female pacers went to the gate on Monday with three divisions for each gender.

Dancininthefire (Colin Kelly, 1:55.2), Grin And Win (Tyler Moore, 1:56), and Up Front Bb (Ryan Holliday, 1:57.3) each took a split of the colt and gelding pace division while Tj Bliss (Scott Young, 1:56.2), Eternal Delight (Samuel Fillion, 1:57.2), and Bb Ballykeel (Travis Henry, 1:58.2) won a split each of the filly pace division.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Grand River Raceway. 

(Standardbred Canada)