Driver Tyler Moore sent Yacht Seelster for the front and the seven-year-old Shadow Play stallion held his speed through the mile to score a 1:53.2 win in the $11,000 Horses & Geldings Preferred Pace at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday night (July 13).
Casimir Richie P pushed for the lead from the pylon post but Yacht Seelster chased and soon took over the lead after a :28.1 first quarter. From there, the Don Lindsey trainee coasted to a :56.3 half and through three-quarters in 1:25, where he turned away a first-over challenge from Champagne Phil. Off the corner, Yacht Seelster strode to a 2-1/2-length win over Casimir Richie P with Champagne Phil finishing another length behind in third and Dontpokethedragon closing for fourth.
Lindsey co-owns Yacht Seelster with Paul Kleinpaste, William Alempijevic and Garth Bechtel. He won his fifth race from 20 starts this season and his 23rd from 136 overall, good for $403,904 in earnings. He paid $6.10 to win.
Earlier in the card, Grand River hosted three divisions of the Prospect Series second preliminary for three-year-old pacing fillies.
Arkell posted the fastest win with a 1:57.1 victory in the $7,200 first division. The daughter of Sunshine Beach sat fourth as Sexy Playmate carved fractions of :27.4 and :58.1 before launching into orbit. Scott Coulter cleared command with the Gregg McNair trainee up the backside and clicked by three-quarters in 1:27.3 while widening her advantage through the final turn. Arkell rounded for home with an increasing lead capped at 7-3/4 lengths by the beam. Better Double Flip ground on the rim to take second from pocket-sitter Ezbriesybeautiful.
Winning her third race from 12 starts, Arkell has now banked $31,050 for owners Shady Hill Racing Stable, Brenda Lothmann and Laura McKinney. She paid $3.70 to win.
Odds-on choice Ribbon Ridge rolled on the lead, lost lead, then regained the lead in the stretch to win the second Prospect Series split. Driver Tyler Borth bolted the Bud Sinclair trainee to the lead to a :28.4 first quarter and bore a first-over challenge from Bonnie Sunshine into a :58.4 half. Bonnie Sunshine grabbed the lead up the backside and took the field to three-quarters in 1:27.2, but Ribbon Ridge emerged from the pocket at the bottom of the turn to edge by Bonnie Sunshine and win by three-quarter lengths in 1:57.4. Larjon Ladybug rallied from last for third.
Sinclair co-owns Ribbon Ridge with Ross Holmes. The Artspeak filly broke her maiden in the 17th attempt while padding her account to $39,462. She paid $3.40 to win.
Royal Blush floated first over and reeled in a tiring leader to upset in the final Prospect Series split. The daughter of Royal Mattjesty sat third while Mighty Melissa sped through early fractions of :27.1 and :56.4. Driver Travis Henry sent Royal Blush off the pegs up the backside and made steady gains on Mighty Melissa to three-quarters in 1:26.1. But when the pacesetter galloped coming for home and stacked the field behind her, Royal Blush inherited a loose lead to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:57.2. Windsun Martini followed her cover and finished second at 42-1 while JMR Sporty Mel ascended to third following Mighty Melissa's disqualification.
Blake MacIntosh trains Royal Blush for owner Hutt Racing Stable. She won her third race from 11 starts and has now earned $13,288. She paid $28.30 to win.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.