Grand River Raceway kicked off its 2025 harness racing season on Wednesday, June 4 and Saulsbrook Olympia took the first featured class of the year with a win in the $11,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Pace at odds of 21-1.
Heavily-backed Betternotmachme (Travis Cullen) cut the mile from the rail, posting fractions in :27, :56.4 and 1:25. Second choice Charmbo Stormy (Austin Sorrie) followed in second with two longshots, Sports Duchess (Daryl Thiessen) and Saulsbrook Olympia (J Harris), tracking in third and fourth, respectively. The field remained single file throughout the mile until the top of the stretch. Stepping towards the wire, the field fanned four across the track in a tight finish. With a :27.2 final panel, Saulsbrook Olympia did the better work to win by a head in 1:53.1 over Sports Duchess in second and Betternotmachme in third.
Vernon Cochrane trains the seven-year-old daughter of Big Jim-Racino Star for owner Edward Gorc of Sudbury, Ont. The mare won her fourth race of the year in 16 starts and her 33rd career victory from 122 starts. Saulsbrook Olympia boasts career earnings of $335,887. She paid $43.80 to win.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)