The stage is set for the elimination rounds of Grand River Raceway’s signature race, the 12th annual $300,000 Battle of Waterloo, and its new companion race, the $150,000 Battle of the Belles
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A total of 29 freshman pacing colts and 30 fillies will face off in four respective divisions on Monday, July 27. The top nine finishers for each Battle will advance to their finals on Industry Day, the track’s annual horse racing celebration, on Monday, August 3.
Hall Of Fame driver Ron Waples will join the Tarmac Show on Monday night for special coverage of the elimination starters.
Future Million enters the eliminations as only the second horse in the history of the Battle Of Waterloo to supplement to the race. A runner-up in last week’s OSS Gold Final at Mohawk, breeder-trainer Donald Lowes made the $20,000 investment to include the Million Dollar Cam colt, who has banked $54,147 to date with a trio of second-place finishes for Lowes and co-owner Kerry Lowes. Future Million will start from post three as the 6-5 favourite in the first Battle Of Waterloo division (race one).
Lyons Danny was a third-place finisher in last week’s OSS Gold Final, and enters the final Battle Of Waterloo elimination with flash. A winner in his three prior starts, the Astreos colt has banked $67,395 for trainer Shawn Robinson and owner Joseph Lyons Mound. He is the 6-5 early favourite in race seven.
Last year’s winning trainer with Trail Boss, Gregg McNair has just one hopeful going postward. Stonebridge Tonic will start from post seven in division three for McNair, breeder Angie Stiller, Artana Stables, and Len Gamble.
Five-time winning stake trainer Carl Jamieson also brings one solo charge with Wave That Banner, a son of the 2004 Battle Of Waterloo victor, Banner Yankee. He starts from post seven in race four in the quest for his maiden-breaking voyage.
Bob McIntosh sports the most hopefuls with Cool And Collected (race one), Good bad Ugly (race seven), and OSS Grass Roots winner Businessorpleasure, who will face off against Dr. Ian Moore’s 9-5 favourite Wellthereyougo in race four.
Brusiers Brother is one of two starters for trainer Louie Eftimiadis and owner Gerald Mijal. The pair won a Battle Of Waterloo elimination race in 2007 with the colt’s full brother, Believeinbruiser, who finished third to Somebeachsomewhere in the final.
Rene Laarman and local owners Glenview Livestock Ltd. Of Wallentein, ON will send three fillies postward on Monday night in hopes of advancing to the first-ever Battle Of The Belles.
Laarman has two trainees for Glenview — Euphrosini (race two) and Real Eye Opener (race nine). Stablemate Sweetest Smile is owned by Blueriff Standardbreds and will start from post five in race five.
Robert Stewart Stake winner The Big Scoop will start next to Real Eye Opener in the third division, aiming to keep her perfect record intact for trainer Randy Hill and Darryl Hall.
Gregg McNair’s Tiz To Dream draws post two in the second division. The two-time winner has banked $89,424 for McNair and co-owner Paul Kidd of Guelph, ON. Her latest victory was a gate-to-wire romp in the OSS Gold Final at Mohawk. Her stablemate Apache Pat will also start from post two in the final division for owner Robert Chapple.
Deliciouslynaughty set a new Canadian season record for trainer Mark Etsell in a recent OSS Grass Roots event at Kawartha Downs. The Mach Three miss finished a length the best in 1:55.4 for owner David Snowden. She starts from the outside, post eight, in Monday’s third division. Stablemate Village Silence seeks her first career win for David Rae in race five.
Bill Robinson and Carl Jamieson also have two hopefuls apiece. Robinson’s Windsong Gentille is undefeated in three starts, including an OSS Grass Roots victory last week. She’s featured in the first elim, followed by Lyons Anitacol in race five.
Jamieson’s charges consist of Mother Hen (race two) and Miss All Fun in the final test.
Post positions for both finals will be drawn on the Tarmac Show at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening. The top two finishers, plus one randomly drawn third-place finisher from each elimination will advance to their respective finals. The draw for the Battle Of Waterloo will follow race eight. The Battle Of The Belles will be drawn following race 11. Both draws will be broadcast as part of the track’s simulcast show of harness racing.
Post time for race one on Monday, July 27 is 7:00 p.m.
Both finals will be featured during Grand River Raceway’s marquee event, Industry Day, on Monday August 3. Post time for Industry Day is 2:00 p.m.
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