A trio of Preferred events went postward Monday evening at Grand River Raceway, with two for the boys and one for the girls.
Paparazzi Hanover got things started with his 1:54.2 triumph in the first of the two $8,500 Preferred 3 events for horse and gelding pacers.
Travis Cullen rolled the Jodie Cullen to the lead and after cutting fractions of :27, :56.1 and 1:25 the gelding used a :29.2 closing panel to win by 3-1/2 lengths over Evasive Card Shark in 1:54.2. Buckeroo rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the seven-year-old son of Well Said-Paulas Best improved this year’s record to 4-7-1 from 23 attempts for partners Travis Cullen and Keith Hannah. The 19-time winner has banked over $310,000 to date.
Drunkonaplane took the other division of the class thanks to his last second heroics for driver Brett MacDonald.
The gelding was treated to a perfect trip behind Thorn In Your Side, who chopped out splits of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:26.1. Drunkonaplane sprinted home in :28.2 to win by three-quarters of a length over even-money favourite Thorn In Your Side in 1:54.4. Bettors Western was third.
Craig Gilmour trains the five-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Ali Badali for ICR Racing of Pefferlaw, Ont. Sent off at odds of 5-1, Drunkonaplane now boasts a 4-1-4 record from 20 trips to the track this season. The 17-time winner has banked over $140,000 in his career.
Outlaw Imahotvixen gave Team Cullen another preferred victory thanks to her triumph in the $8,500 Preferred 3 for filly and mare pacers.
Travis Cullen put the 1-9 favourite on the lead right from the outset and together they led the group through intervals of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27.1. A :28.3 closing quarter earned her the win by a length over Top Royal in 1:55.4. Ride Away Shark took home the show dough.
Trainer Jodie Cullen co-owns the five-year-old daughter of Blue Burner-Fox Valley Cherish with Ron Cullen of Dundas, Ont. The mare is a two-time winner this year and a 16-time winner to date. She’s stashed away more than $160,000 in her career.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.