Wild Dragon was an odds-on winner in an overnight assignment at Grand River Raceway one week ago, but in tonight’s ascent to the Preferred class the majority of the betting public didn’t give him much of a shot in his quest to repeat.
Clearly the four-year-old son of Dragon Again-Wild Helen took the pari-mutuel snub personally, as he went out and won convincingly as a 15-1 outsider for the tandem of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Richard Moreau.
Henry hustled Wild Dragon to the lead from Post 5, and after slicing out splits of :28, :56.4 and 1:24 he used a :29.1 closing quarter to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1. Bay Of Sharks, who was sent off as the 2-5 favourite, finished second after being treated to a two-hole journey throughout the mile. Third prize went to In The Irons, who, at 69-1, was the longest shot on the board.
Gestion Jean Yves Blais of Montreal, QC owns the career winner of $172,082, who now boasts a 7-6-6 record this season from just 29 trips postward. The 13-time winner has banked more than $85,000 this year.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.