The California-bred Silverlode ($14.80) struck gold in her Grand River Raceway debut, narrowly prevailing in Wednesday night's (June 17) featured $11,500 Preferred 2 Trot.
The 11-year-old daughter of British Sterling vaulted from post 6 to a clear lead just a few steps into the first turn, but driver Scott Young was forced to yield to a headstrong 54-1 outsider Played By Swan (Dennis Duford) just beyond a :29.1 first quarter. Silverlode made her second move nearing race's midpoint, reassuming control from Played By Swan at the :59.1 half-mile split, but the sailing got no easier for the veteran.
Up the backstretch, Silverlode was pushed along by odds-on favourite Monopoly (Robert Shepherd), whose first-over attack drew to nearly level pegging through a :29.2 third sectional. Silverlode shook free of Monopoly on the far turn, but Lefkada (Scott Wray) — who broke early and made a three-wide push around rivals on the far turn — loomed large off the corner. Undeterred, Silverlode found the line in time, holding Lefkada a head at bay in 1:58.1. Monopoly faded to third, 2-3/4 lengths behind.
Michiel Vanderkemp trains 49-time winner Silverlode for George McChrystal.
The sub-featured $8,500 Preferred 3 for distaff pacers saw Better Decision N ($5.70) make good in her 2020 debut, rating a :58.1 half before parrying a first-over charge from Top Royal and then edging away to evade a mild late rally from Smile Sally by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.4. Driver Travis Cullen and trainer Rachel Andrew co-own the six-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight who has now won 11 races in her career.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.