Dancehall Mistress didn’t have much luck in her first two starts of the season for trainer Brad Maxwell, but in Monday’s third kick at the can she hit the jackpot.
With Stuart Sowerby at the controls, Dancehall Mistress made a bold move in the backstretch en route to capturing the $11,000 Preferred 2 Trot at Grand River Raceway. The five-year-old daughter of Angus Hall-Benns Riverdance sat seventh while Incredable Frank chopped out of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:28.1. Dancehall Mistress commenced a three-wide rally before travelling into the final quarter of the contest, and he :29.1 closing speed was good enough to earn her the win by 3-1/2 lengths over Incredable Frank in 1:58.1. Spartan Victory claimed the show dough in the eight-horse affair.
Sent off at odds of 4-1, Dancehall Mistress won for the tenth time in her career for owner Doug Millard, Glenn Tarver and David Goodrow Stable. The lion’s share of the purse bumped her earnings to $241,720.
The $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 for pacers went to Royal Cover Up, who erupted for a 12-1 upset for the tandem of driver Alfie Carroll and trainer Brian Hodgson. The six-year-old daughter of Royal Mattjesty-Legalistic fired to the front and hustled the field through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:26 before cruising to a one-length score in 1:56 over Twilight Seelster. Eat Me Up rallied from far back to finish third.
Donald Hodgson of Dorchester, Ontario owns the 10-time winner, who improved this year’s record to 2-3-2 from the 13 trips to the track. The 1:56 clocking was a career-best performance for the winner of $84,124.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.