Rene Allard, Canada’s leading trainer for wins in 2011, captured both $10,000 divisions of the Prospector Claiming Series on Saturday at Georgian Downs with front-stepper Smokin N Grinin and late closer Holdmybeer
. The series is for $12,500 claiming pacers that are non-winners of $60,000 lifetime as of Mar. 15.
Smokin N Grinin ($3.70), a four-year-old grey pacing mare driven by Anthony MacDonald, pulled the pocket after the opening quarter and kicked away from the field to win the first division by over five lengths in 1:55 over a track rated ‘good’. Crash Course (Gerry Belanger) was the runner-up, edging out pocket-sitter Cambest Kisser (Paul MacKenzie).
Allard trains and shares ownership of the Grinfromeartoear-Smokin Pistol lass, who has won her last three races and half of her 10 seasonal starts, with Litwin Racing Team of Westmount, Que.
Allard stablemates Holdmybeer ($14.30) and Whatsthurraymurray finished one-two in the next division, separated by a quarter-length at the wire. Driven by J.R. Plante, Holdmybeer sat ninth and last for most of the mile before sprinting home to score in 1:56.1 with Whatsthurraymurray and driver Simon Allard hurrying home for second. Grinfromharetother (Mark Estell) finished two and a half lengths back in third.
The winning five-year-old son of Rambaran-Bo Knows Shelly was claimed for $6,500 in his last race on April 1 at Rideau Carleton Raceway, which he won, by Michel Allard of Saint-Esprit and Gilles Fleury of Mascouche, Que.
For results from Saturday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results – Georgian Downs.