Lexis D J has only the breaker beaten early on, but the five-year-old Amigo Hall gelding rallied home to score the victory in the $11,000 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot featured on Wednesday's harness racing card at Grand River Raceway.
With Ross Battin in the bike, Lexis D J ($7.40) lowered his season's mark to 1:56.4 as he nipped the popular pacesetters, Indiana Hall and Trevor Henry, at the wire. Famous Mark, driven by Mario Baillargeon, finished one and a quarter lengths behind in third off a pocket trip.
The Shane Arsenault trainee has not missed the board in his last nine starts and is seven-for-19 on the year with close to $70,000 banked in purses. He is owned by Louis Arsenault of Freelton, Ont. and Brandon Arsenault of Waterdown, Ont.
This week's $10,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Handicap Pace went to 20-time career winner Victim Of Love ($14.40), who advanced first up from the backfield en route to a 1:54.4 score with Henry in the bike. Pocket-sitter Sweet Hedge and Stephen Byron finished one and a half lengths behind, edging out the favoured pacesetter Boomersbestbet and Billy Davis Jr. for runner-up honours.
Wayne Preszcator trains the seven-year-old daughter of No Pan Intended, who earned her sixth win of the season in 23 starts. She is owned by Harness Racing Canada Inc. of Mississauga, Ont., Fred of Haskell, Strathroy, Ont., Guy Haskell of Guelph, Ont., and Calgary's Bill Andrew.
In streaking action, three-year-old Bettors Delight filly Issie Blue By You ($2.70) earned her fifth victory in a row on Canadian soil since shipping north and being placed under trainer Chantal Mitchell's care. Driver J.R. Plante sent her wire-to-wire to win in 1:57.3 for Quebec owners Alain Durivage of Boucherville and Diane Lepine of Ville-De-Lac-Saint-Joseph.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.