After angling three-wide off perfect second-over cover, Rosaire Renaud's Y A Muscle Mass ($13.50) kept a late charge from even-money favourite Azucar just at bay to take Wednesday's (June 12) featured $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot at Grand River Raceway.
Robert Shepherd angled the four-year-old Muscle Mass entire into the outer tier behind Bastiano (Dave Boughton) nearing a :59.3 half mile, and the pair stalked closely as Bastiano put pressure on early pacesetter All Out Henry (Scott Young) through the second circuit. With a quarter mile remaining, Y A Muscle Mass pushed three-wide to further engage the top pair, and he worked up to the lead upon straightening for home.
In the final sixteenth, Y A Muscle Mass started to edge away from All Out Henry and Bastiano, but Azucar — who had been locked in the pocket up the far side — was switched four-wide by Travis Henry to give chase a sixteenth from home. While Azucar was loaded with late trot, he simply ran out of racetrack, and Y A Muscle Mass won by a half length in 1:59. All Out Henry narrowly held on for third over the tiring Bastiano.
Isabelle Darveau trains 10-time winner Y A Muscle Mass.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.