Speed failed to hold up in a set of Monday evening Preferred events at Grand River Raceway as Aussie Lover and Respect Our Flag each used come-from-behind tactics to take home top honours in their respective assignments.
Aussie Lover survived a first-over journey en route to posting a 6-1 upset in the $11,000 Preferred 2 Trot for the tandem of driver J Harris and trainer Gord Remmen.
Harris got away fourth with Aussie Lover while Sicario shot to the lead and rolled the field through fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.2. Aussie Lover made his first over bid on the way to the half, and after steadily advancing on the rim, he then used a :30-second closing panel to win by a neck over Sicario in 1:57.2. Power And Grace was a lapped-on third in the co-featured affair.
Remmen shares ownership on the six-year-old son of Angus Hall-His Mistress with 8113564 Canada Ltd of
Respect Our Flag later used an off-the-pace approach to capturing the $11,000 Preferred 2 for horse and gelding pacers for the duo of driver Ed Hensley and trainer Jodie Cullen.
Hensley got away seventh with the favourite while St Lads Cash shot to the top from Post 4 and then rolled the group through fractions of :26.3, :56.4 and 1:25.1. Ideal Perception put first-over pressure on the leader on the way to the half before tiring late. Respect Our Flag angled off the rail on the way to the mid-way point before advancing to be sixth on the rim as the field headed into the final quarter of the contest. Respect Our Flag then stormed home in :28.3 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over St Lads Cash in 1:54.4. Bolt Power wound up third.
The seven-year-old son of Roll With Joe-Gyrations has assembled a 3-4-3 record from 23 starts this season for the partnership of Paul Sanders, Travis Cullen and Ron Cullen. The 32-time winner pushed his lifetime earnings over $400,000 with the win.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.