Grand Bay and Godro Machine held firm on the lead in their respective $5,000 second-round events in the Sharpes Feed Series for pacing fillies and mares on Sunday afternoon (July 15) at Clinton Raceway.
Grand Bay ($5.20) and driver J Harris won a three-filly battle to the first turn in the first division (race five), forcing Miss Daisy Duke (Tyler Moore) into the pocket and also rebuffing Dynasty Seelster (Scott Wray) en route to a :29 first quarter. After rating middle fractions of :59.4 and 1:30.3, Grand Bay braced for — and successfully parried — a bid from Miss Daisy Duke on the far turn. The three-year-old Badlands Hanover filly edged away off the home turn to put 1-1/4 lengths on eventual runner-up and even-money favourite Keen As A Bean (Colin Kelly), who worked up the pegs to take second. Miss Daisy Duke faded to third.
The winner of the $12,700 Mark Austin final at Dresden in June, Grand Bay increased her career tally to six wins in nine starts for owner James Napper and trainer Catherine Gaudreau.
In the second division (race seven), Godro Machine ($13.00) and Scott Wray outpaced another strong favourite, using a :30 third quarter to evade Shadowofhersmile (Kelly) and keep clear by two lengths for a 2:00.3 score. The three-year-old daughter of Shanghai Phil cleared LC Save The Date (Robert Doyle) with ease into a :31 first quarter before turning aside the first-over rush of Pocket Pickle (Ondrej Gois) just as facilely early in the second circuit. As odds-on choice Shadowofhersmile was forced three-wide around tiring cover with five-sixteenths to go, Godro Machine drew away boldly and kept clearance on Shadowofhersmile to the winning post. Presidents Wish (Mike Whelan) rallied belatedly to finish third.
Godro Machine broke maiden in her eleventh career start for owner Rebecca Williamson and trainer Robert Daer.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Clinton Raceway.