Kenny Joe was a winner in the $8,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers at Grand River Raceway last Monday evening, and he was just as effective in the same class during Monday evening’s 10-race card.
With Scott Coulter calling the shots, Kenny Joe got away sixth in the early going while Amazon Dragon rolled the group through fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.3. Bravado Seelster came first over on the way to the half, and glued to his cover was race favourite Kenny Joe.
Bravado Seelster backed away late, but Kenny Joe kept coming. In fact, he unleashed a :28.4 closing panel which was good enough to earn him the win by a half-length margin over Amazon Dragon in 1:55. About A Boy took home the show dough.
David O’Brien trains the four-year-old son of Shadow Play-Real City Blues for owner Kevin Gillis of Windsor, Ont. The victory was his third of the season from nine attempts. The 10-time winner has banked close to $70,000 to date.
Jay Eye Em was a popular winner in the second division of the class, and he also used come-from-behind tactics to post the win.
The gelding got away fifth for driver Travis Cullen, who wound up working out a second over trip behind Print Media. Yankee Osborne laid down fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.2, but he couldn’t seal the deal. Jay Eye Em launched off cover and kicked home in :27.4 to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Yankee Osborne in 1:53.4. Print Media wound up third.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Jay Eye Em improved his 2020 record to 2-1-2 from 10 tries for Cullen and co-owner/trainer Rachel Andrew. The four-year-old son of Big Jim-Charter Flight is a 13-time winner with earnings just shy of $100,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.