Driver Jonathan Drury mapped out a perfect trip for Straight Shooting in Monday’s $11,000 Preferred #2 at Grand River Raceway, and the pacer parlayed it into a speedy score in the featured tilt.
Trained by Randy Van Meer, Straight Shooting got away fifth in the six-horse affair while race favourite Acceptable Risk blasted to the top and threw down an opening quarter in :27.3. He came under pressure from the parked-out Button Up at the half in 1:25, and those two continued their battle to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.
Drury had Straight Shooting positioned second-over behind those battlers, and when he tipped the six-year-old son of Western Terror-Mattcheck Girl three wide the pacer uncorked a :29.1 closing panel. That was good enough to earn Straight Shooting the half-length decision in 1:54.2 over a very determined Button Up. Third prize went to Mach It Big.
Van Meer shares ownership on the 16-time winner with Harry Locke of Oshawa, ON. It was the sixth tally of the season in 19 trips to the track for the career winner of $725,956.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.