Mckinney had to settle for the runner-up award in last week’s $11,000 Preferred 2 for horses and geldings at Grand River Raceway, but that wasn’t the case in Monday’s feature race.
Billy Davis, Jr. got away fifth with Mckinney in Monday’s main event, leaving the front-stepping up to Cluster Hanover. That foe threw down fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.2 before being overtaken. Race favourite Savage Seelster put pressure on the leader in the last half of the contest, with Mckinney riding that cover from second-over. Davis summoned up :27.4 speed from Mckinney over the final quarter, and that was just enough for him to prevail by a nose over Savage Seelster in 1:53.3. Third-place finisher Cluster Hanover was a length in arrears.
The five-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip-Thepansofiwojima, who was sent off at odds of 9-5, won for the third time this season and for the 13th time in his career. He’s banked just shy of $240,000 to date. Barry Drury trains the pacer, who races under a lease to Arthur Slack of Rockwood, Ontario.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.