The final qualifying round of the inaugural Pick 3 Fantasy Harness Racing contest took place Thursday night at Hanover Raceway, and those players that had driver Ryan Holliday selected for their team benefitted early, and often, as the young gun shot to the winner’s circle four times on the card.
In the second race, Holliday wired the field of filly & mare claimers with Greystone Fantasy in 1:58 after setting fractions of :27.4, :58.4 and 1:28.3. The win was the 10-year old mare’s fifth in nine starts this season. Gerald Murray of Holyrood, Ontario owns and trains the veteran claimer who remains camera shy after 23 lifetime victories.
Holliday continued his winning ways with back-to-back victories in the fifth and sixth races. In the fifth, Machs Fortune converted a pocket trip to overtake a front-stepping Carsons Ladyluck for the 1:58.1 score. Then, Holliday steered Mr Yokassippi to his maiden-breaking victory in just his third lifetime start. The three-year old L H Stryker colt jogged to victory in 1:57.1 as the overwhelming public choice.
Holliday capped the night off with a longshot shocker aboard Modern Star for trainer Dan Morrissey. The five-year old daughter of Modern Art got off to a rough start from the outside post seven and was eighth in the early stages of the race, but picked up the pieces in the stretch, sweeping from sixth to first in the final quarter. Modern Star paid $97.20 for a $2 win ticket.
Holliday now has 19 wins at Hanover Raceway in 2012, putting him squarely in third position in the drivers’ rankings. He enjoyed a breakout season last year, finishing tied for second among all drivers on the Hanover circuit. Holliday has 81 wins in total during the 2012 calendar year.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Hanover Raceway.
(Hanover Raceway)
Great night for your Ryan! A
Great night for your Ryan! A win out of the 7 hole was a nice way to finish up!
Congrats Ryan. Let's hope
Congrats Ryan. Let's hope the streak keeps going.