Double-millionaire Logan Park reclaimed the Earl Rowe Memorial Invitational Trot crown in record fashion with an authoritative victory in Georgian Downs’ $100,000 signature race on Saturday, Aug. 15.

The 2024 champion neutralized his post-eight draw with an early blast that put him on top as the field of eight entered the first turn, while favourite Emoticon Legacy (Bob McClure) dropped back to sixth. Logan Park stayed cool on the front with Gaines Hanover (Austin Sorrie) first-over past the half in :57 as that rival failed to advance past the leader’s wheel. Doug McNair loosened his hold on Logan Park going to three-quarters in 1:24.1, putting his gelding 2-1/2 lengths clear of the rest in the stretch. Emoticon Legacy charged down the outside after a four-wide swoop on the last turn but was two lengths short of the wrapped-up Logan Park, who stopped the clock in 1:51.4. Dame Good Time (Scott Young) was a closing third.

Logan Park’s time lowered the track record for an older trotting gelding and the all-age Canadian standard for a gelded trotter on a five-eighths mile oval. Fashion Frenzie’s 1:52.3 mile from the 2022 Earl Rowe was the previous record at Georgian and shared the national record with Macallan, who matched that time in 2024 at Grand River Raceway.

The victory for Logan Park was his seventh this year in 11 outings as the Archangel-Rite Outa The Park gelding chases his fourth straight O’Brien Award as Canada’s Older Trotting Horse of the Year. The Kyle Fellows trainee has won the Woodbine Mohawk Park Open six times this year. After winning the 2024 Earl Rowe, Logan Park finished third last year by a neck. He is 51-for-113 lifetime with $2,482,685 earned for Outofthepark Stable of Rockwood, Ont., Reg Higgs of Blenheim, Ont. and Arpad Szabo of Bradford, Ont. He paid $4.20 to win.

Three $30,000 divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Leg 3B for two-year-old trotting colts were at the top of the undercard menu. Save You A Seat ($46.50) upset in the opener as he circled to the front early, yielded to sit the pocket, then collared favourite The Great Gazoo (Austin Sorrie) to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.3. Anthony Haughan had the lines of the Archangel-Twin B Hugs gelding for trainer Francis Dumouchel.

A second upset came as Black Shank ($34.10) wired the field in the second division for driver Ed Hensley and trainer Jean-Francois Maguire. The son of Archangel-Beer Maggs reached the line in front by two lengths and put up a time of 1:59.1.

Arm N Hammer ($4.70) took the third division, peeling off by 3-1/4 lengths in the stretch to win in 1:57.3 after leading throughout. Bob McClure drove the Muscle Mass-Ava Marion gelding for trainer Paul Reid.

Two-year-old trotters contested five divisions of leg 3B of the Prospect Series. The three filly winners were Highland Firen Ice ($4.80) in 2:01.1, Twelvecaratgold ($5.80) in 2:03 and Tirade Seelster ($31.20) in 2:00.4. Mess Around ($5.20, 2:03.1) and Naked Farmer ($4.50, 2:01) won the colt splits.

To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)