Totally Ripped made his Georgian Downs debut a winning one on Saturday night as he prevailed in the featured $7,500 Preferred 3 Trot for Team Byron.
Driver Steve Byron left from the outside post six with Totally Ripped and tucked into third position at the start of the race. After following in third-place through opening fractions of :27.3 and :57, Byron sent the four-year-old trotter after the popular front-stepper, Kennel Buddy (Travis Henry). Totally Ripped took the lead just past the 1:26.2 third quarter mark and then held off the late-closers down the stretch to win in 1:56.1. Alexander Lukas (Robert Shepherd) finished less than a less behind in second and O U Sexy Guy (Paul MacKenzie) was third.
Jeff Byron trains Totally Ripped for owner Donald Leschied of South Woodslee, Ont. The win was the first this year in five starts for the Muscle Mass gelding, who has mainly raced on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit throughout his career except when he competed in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots program.
Totally Ripped paid $8.10 to win as the 3-1 third choice.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.