A trip to Grand River Raceway on Tuesday night proved to be a profitable journey for trotter Home Stretch, who turned in the nation’s fastest mile of the season for an older
trotting horse on a half-mile oval.
The previous record of 1:58.3 was shared by Paradise Lane N (May 3) and Chinnys Wings (May 27). Both square gaiters turned in their speedy performances at Flamboro Downs.
Home Stretch, who failed to hit the board in his last two starts at Mohawk Racetrack, appreciated the change of scenery for trainer/driver Tim Driver. The five-year-old son of Valley Victory-Dreamlands Crown rallied off cover to win the $12,800 Preferred Trot in going away fashion.
Long Ago and The Original battled to the quarter pole in :28.1 before the latter cleared to the position of command. The Original rolled the field to the half in :58.4 and the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4, but he was pressured in the third quarter by race favourite Presidents Choice. Home Stretch, in the meantime, was glued to second over cover as the field race to the head of the lane.
Driver tipped his charge three wide coming off the turn, and Home Stretch uncorked a :28.4 final frame to win by more than two lengths. Tymal Cherub rallied to grab the runner-up award while The Original held on for the show dough.
June Durussel of Millington, MI holds the papers on Home Stretch, who picked up his fourth win of the season in just eight trips postward. The 21-time winner has banked in excess of $28,000 this season and more than $121,000 to date.
In the co-featured Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace, Simply Mavelous was an impressive winner in front-stepping fashion for the tandem of driver Robert Sheppard and trainer Rod Boyd.
Sheppard got away second with the five-year-old daughter of Western Maverick-Sanfran Cam, but he didn’t sit for long. He had his charge out and rolling to the lead at the mid-point of the backstretch, and they were the leaders at the quarter pole in :27.4. Despite being pressed through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:26.1 Simply Mavelous dug in for a :29.2 final frame en route to posting the 1:55.3 tally over JVs Redwine and Gabrielles Girl.
Simply Mavelous, who is owned by Blue Oak Stables of Brampton, ON, now owns a 5-1-2 record in 19 starts this season. The Ontario Sires Stakes graduates lifted her career bankroll to $321,374 with the win.
To view Tuesday’s results, click here.