It was upset city in the Preferred events Monday evening at Grand River Raceway thanks to solid victories by the trio of Lo Hold A Moonbean, Adore Him and Bettor BB.
First up was Lo Hold A Moonbean, who erupted for a 21-1 stunner in the $8,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 for pacers. Jason Ryan rolled her through fractions of :27.2, :58 and 1:26.3 before using a :28.4 kicker to prevail by 2-1/2 lengths over runner-up Regal Luck in 1:55.2. Race favourite Ride Away Shark settled for third prize.
Dave Daigneault owns and trains the six-year-old daughter of Moon Beam-Izzy Inc. The triumph was her third of the season and the 25th of her career. The $4,250 payday bumped her lifetime earnings to $214,301.
Adore Him employed come-from-behind tactics in the first of two $8,500 Preferred 3 events for horse and gelding papers, and that proved to be the winning move for the Paul Taylor pupil.
Still sitting sixth as the field turned for home, the seven-year-old son of Shadow Play-Respectednbeloved fired home in :29.3, and that was good enough to earn him the head decision over Buckeroo in 1:54.3. Odds-on favourite Drunkonaplane carved out panels of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:24.3 before coming under attack and finishing a lapped-on third.
Sent off at odds of 6-1, the gelding improved this year’s record to 3-3-1 from 10 trips to the track for owner Curt Blake of Clinton, Ont. The 28-time winner has banked $165,071 to date.
Bettor BB took the other division for the horse and gelding pacers, and he did so in an eye-catching clocking of 1:54.2 for trainer Craig Barss and teamster Brett MacDonald.
The four-year-old son of Bettors Delight-U All BB enjoyed a pocket trip behind Paparazzi Hanover, who sliced out fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:25.3. Bettor BB kicked home in :28.3 once she got racetrack to work with, and that was just enough to earn her the nose decision over race favourite Paparazzi Hanover.
Nurko Sokolovic and Craig Barss bred and own the gelding, who has lit the lamp six times this season and more than nine times in his career. He’s managed to stash away more than $85,000 to this point.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.