There wasn’t much speed for J J Powerball to chase in Monday’s $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap for horse and gelding pacers at Grand River Raceway, but he dug down deep and posted a gutsy win for trainer/driver Austin Sorrie.
J J Powerball dropped into the four-hole early while Opportune Hanover shot to the top and carved out an opening quarter clocked in :28. He really backed down the pace in the middle stages of the mile as noted by fractions of :58.3 and 1:27. J J Powerball made a first-over move coming to the half, and he continued to grind away from first over.
He was just head behind Opportune Hanover at the three-quarter pole before going into sprint mode in the final quarter of the contest. J J Powerball’s closing panel of :28 was enough to earn him the win by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Opportune Hanover in 1:55. Brodys Scrapper was third.
Sorrie shares ownership on the six-year-old son of Image Of Dawn-NY Lotto with Tammy Collings of Hazel Brook, PE. The win was the pacer’s first of the season and the 16th of his career. He pushed his earnings over $90,000 in the process.
Jewels Dragon also used rallying tactics to capture the $8,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers earlier on the card.
Travis Cullen was in no hurry with his charge who got away sixth while Mr Kelly blasted to the top and carved out an opening panel of :27.1. Shades Of Bay came first-over on the way to the half, and he showed a short lead while racing parked through middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.
Bit Of Luck tracked cover from second over and Jewels Dragon moved up third over at that point. Both Bit Of Luck and Jewels Dragon fired wide in the third quarter, but it was Jewels Dragon who ultimately used a :28.3 closing panel to win by a half-length margin over a determined runner-up in Shades Of Bay in 1:54.1. Taking home third prize was Freddy Bear.
Jodie Cullen trains the five-year-old son of Custard The Dragon-Whitesand Jewel for owner Paul Sanders of Surrey, BC. The gelding now owns a 3-for-11 record this season. The 18-time winner has banked over $185,000 to date.
It was one of three wins on the card for trainer Jodie Cullen. She also clicked with Share The Moment (1:55.3) and Outlaw Gunpowder (1:56.1).
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.