Octogenarian Bill Megens recorded his first driving win since July 2015 in one of two co-featured $8,500 Preferred 3 Trots on Wednesday evening (June 27) at Grand River Raceway, piloting Willyorwonthe ($4.80) to a two-length score.
The 84-year-old Megens, who also owns and trains Willyorwonthe, sent the five-year-old Angus Hall gelding up the pegs to steal the lead from Eternal Quest (Scott Coulter) on the first turn before controlling fractions of :28.4, :57.3 and 1:27. Uncontested until the final three-sixteenths, Willyorwonthe parried a mild bid from pocket rival Eternal Quest at the midpoint of the far turn before sprinting away to a 1:56.3 score, the 18th of his career. Even-money favourite Tammy Jo (Robert Shepherd) gained mildly in the second flight to finish third, 7-1/4 lengths farther back.
For Megens, the featured score brought his career driving win total to 1,185. The Puslinch, Ont. resident also has 320 training wins to his name.
Travis Cullen swept the other $8,500 co-features on the 10-race card, teaming up with Outlaw Imahotvixen ($8.10) in the Preferred 3 Pace for fillies and mares before posting a dominant win with Chestnut Schofield ($2.90) in the night's second Preferred 3 Trot.
Outlaw Imahotvixen took advantage of a collapsing pace in the night's top distaff, angling third-over behind Leaving A Legacy (Nick Steward) in pursuit of longshot pacesetter Hussys Sport (J.R. Plante) en route to a :56.3 half. Outlaw Imahotvixen chased the three-wide push of Southwind Ion (J Harris) with five-sixteenths to go before being left uncovered on approach to the final turn. The four-year-old Blue Burner mare took the lead easily off the corner and vaulted clear by 3-3/4 lengths for a 1:55.3 triumph. Art Angel Baby (Ryan Guy) followed the winner's cover into second, while Southwind Ion was relegated to third after being eclipsed in upper stretch.
Trainer Jodie Cullen co-owns 9-time winner Outlaw Imahotvixen with Ron Cullen.
Cullen took the second Preferred 3 Trot in similarly dominant fashion with Chestnut Schofield, but the pair called all the shots through splits of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.3 en route to a 3-3/4 length victory in 1:56.4. Pollar Hall (Bruce Richardson) angled out from third to overtake gapping pocket rival Ionia (Nick Steward) with a quarter to go and hold off P C Dream Ticket (Colin Kelly) for the runner-up spot.
Trainer Ashleigh Hensley co-owns Chestnut Schofield with Ed Hensley. The five-year-old Muscle Mass gelding captured his ninth career win.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.