Cajon Thunder ran his win streak up to seven for trainer Bruce Goit in the sixth leg of the Slots Cup Series at Grand River Raceway on Friday night while his stablemate Dr Dew earned his first victory in the series
. J.R. Plante worked out the winning trips for the barn buddies as part of his driving grand slam.
Cajon Thunder, undefeated in six series legs, took control of the field in the second $12,000 division from Post 4 and cruised through fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:24.3 en route to a 1:53.4 two-length triumph. Pocket-sitter Web Cam (Trevor Henry) followed for second and Larjon Barty (Bruce Richardson) journeyed first over to finish third.
Cajon Thunder paid $3 to win as the heavy 1-2 favourite. The four-year-old gelded son of Cammibest-Tex In The City is owned by JL Benson Stables Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Aaron Waxman of Burlington, Ont., and KDM Stables Corp. of Farmingdale, New York. The win was his eighth in 17 seasonal starts and pushed his earnings to $55,815 for 2011. Lifetime, he has hit the board in more than half of his 43 starts while banking $126,279.
Earlier on the card in the other division, Dr Dew earned his first victory in three series starts and first of the season.
Making his first start in almost two months, Dr Dew pulled the pocket and advanced to the lead after the :28-second opening quarter. Once in control, the son of Royal Mattjesty-Wave At Sam led rest of the way through fractions of :57.4 and 1:26.3 to score in 1:55.2 by one and three-quarter lengths. Stonebridge Memoir (Bruce Richardson) came on for second with Texas Seelster (Trevor Henry) grabbing third.
Dr Dew paid $3.80 to win as the bettor’s choice. The three-year-old gelding earned a pair of cheques in his two prior Slots Cup Series starts for JL Benson Stables Inc. and Aaron Waxman. His third win in 10 career starts bumped his lifetime earnings to $53,390.
The Slots Cup Series will wrap up on Saturday, September 3 at Hiawatha Horse Park with a $100,000 final. The top nine money-earners and two also-eligibles from the qualifying legs advance to the final. Here is a look at the finalists:
Horse - Slots Cup Earnings
Cajon Thunder - $36,000
Larjon Barty - $17,840
Every Day - $14,880
Lawmen Reign - $11,640
Web Cam - $9,960
Encore Seelster - $9,600
Warner Speedy Art - $9,480
Dr Dew - $8,040
Ciona Bromach - $6,960
Stonebridge Memoir - $5,400 (AE1)
Bakardi Arti - $4,200 (AE2)
This is the fourth season of the Slots Cup Series, which is contested by Ontario-sired pacers ages four and under. The endeavor is a joint effort between ROMP (Racetracks Of Ontario Marketing & Promotions), horsepeople and the OLG. Previous legs were contested at Western Fair Raceway, Hanover Raceway, Clinton Raceway, Flamboro Downs and Georgian Downs.
For results from Friday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(With files from Grand River Raceway)