Dianna Secord's Lets Get Pickled ($3.90) notched his second consecutive win in Friday's (July 19) $8,400 conditioned pacing feature at Grand River Raceway, and once again underwent a difficult journey en route to victory.
Trainer-driver Michiel Vanderkemp took his time with the four-year-old Articulator entire before gearing him up out of fourth with nine-sixteenths to go. As Side Hill Gouger (Brett MacDonald) clicked off a :58.3 half, Lets Get Pickled began his first-over ascent before forcing a quickening pace in the second circuit.
Side Hill Gouger accelerated under pressure on the backstretch, and when the pocket-sitting Better Than Boots (Ryan Holliday) began to regress nearing three-quarters in 1:27, Lets Get Pickled was able to duck into the pocket briefly before re-engaging on the final turn. Off the home corner, Lets Get Pickled duelled down Side Hill Gouger, and won by a measured three-quarters of a length in 1:56. Side Hill Gouger held second, and Ozzie Young (Paul MacKenzie) lifted belatedly into third.
The win was the third this season for Lets Get Pickled and the ninth of his career.
To view Friday's complete results, click the following link: Friday Results – Grand River Raceway.