Zorgwijk Fortunate trounced his foes in the $12,800 Preferred #2 Trot with a two and a quarter-length romp while Donegal Gerald prevailed by three and three-quarter
lengths in the matching event for pacers on Tuesday at Grand River Raceway.
There was no stopping Zorgwijk Fortunate, a 2-1 second choice driven by J.R. Plante, in the co-featured six-horse trot. The seven-year-old Wesgate Crown gelding used the inside post to his advantage by shooting straight the lead. Zorwijk Fortunate secured a three and a half length lead by the first quarter in :29.1. He reached the half in 1:00 and three-quarters in 1:29.3 then coasted to victory in 1:59.2.
Loose Change Louie (Paul Mackenzie) survived a first-over trip to finish second and longshot My Rebelious Ways (Nick Henry) finished third.
Trained by David Jim King and owned by Mario Delgobbo of Maple, Ont., Zorgwijk Fortune boasts three wins this year in 10 starts with winnings totaling $21,460.
With two wins on the 12-race program, Plante continues to dominate the early days of the ’09 season at Grand River. The 29-year-old reinsman lifted his win tally to five from 19 starts in the first three days of the half-miler’s meet.
The co-featured Preferred #2 Pace went to Woodbine invader Donegal Gerald, the 2-1 third choice in the seven-horse affair.
Ruff Stuff Jackson (Brad Forward) gave way to favourite Rudy Valentino (J.R. Plante) at the first quarter in :28.2 and that one led to the half in :58 before hooking up with the first-over challenger Risky Rich (Doug McNair) in a duel past three-quarters in 1:26.3.
Making his winning move, Donegal Gerald with Randy Fritz angled wide from second-over and used a :28.4 final frame to seal the deal. He triumphed in a time of 1:55.4.
Cuban Seelster (Nick Steward) rallied from last to grab second and last week’s winner Xlb Patrick (Trevor Henry) finished third.
Dave Matson trains the five-year-old gelded son of Rambaran for owner John Foran of Newmarket, Ont. The win was his third of 2009 in 11 outings giving him $33,800 on the year.
To view Tuesday’s results, click here.
(With files from Grand River)