Ed and Jessica Hayter's Cool Muscle ($4.20) were much the best in Grand River Raceway's Wednesday (July 15) featured $11,500 Preferred 2-3 Handicap Trot, leading for the entirety of a 1:56 mile.
The six-year-old Muscle Mass gelding had no trouble clearing Its Huw You Know (Ed Hensley) on the first turn, and he travelled uncontested through a :58.3 first half before being engaged by Kameran Hanover (Doug McNair) early in the second circuit. After being nudged to three-quarters in 1:27, Cool Muscle scooted away on the far turn under minimal encouragement from Scott Coulter.
Cool Muscle quickly opened up a three-length lead nearing the eighth pole, and he extended his winning margin to a handy 3-1/2 lengths. Kameran Hanover finished an isolated second, and Whiskey Tax (Scott Young) knifed through at the pegs to narrowly claim third.
The featured tally was Cool Muscle's second in four tries this season — all at Grand River — and the 12th of his career. His 1:56 mile equalled the track record for older trotting geldings, tying Stormont Lancelot's previously held mark.
A pair of Ontario Prospect Series events for rookie pacing fillies took place on the undercard.
In the $7,000 first division, Carnival Heart ($7.20) dominated in her career debut, parrying a stout challenge up the backstretch from 3-4 favourite Allmylovin Hanover before powering to a 9-1/4-length win in 1:57.4. J.B. Renaud drove the daughter of Big Jim and Yankeelicious for Julie Walker, Dr. Terry Fried and Darlene Carr.
Also debuting, Century Havana ($3.00) prevailed as the twos-on favourite in the $7,100 second split, rating soft sectionals of 1:00.3 and 1:31.1 before staving off a two-pronged challenge from Reinspired and Prettyinclined to win by a diminishing half length in 2:00. Doug McNair drove the Control The Moment-Mowet Blue Chip filly for trainer Jim Ritchie and owner Paul Ritchie.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.