Eliminations will go for both of Grand River Raceway’s marquee events after 18 entries were dropped into the box for the Battle of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farm, while 17 entered for the Battle of the Belles.
A total of four eliminations for Ontario-sired two-year-old pacers – two for the Battle of Waterloo and two for the Battle of the Belles – will go to the gate on Monday, July 29 with the first-race post time set for 6:30 p.m. (EDT).
Both Battle of Waterloo eliminations for the colts and geldings will be contested later in the evening (Races 6 and 8). The first elimination gathers nine, including Stonebridge Wizard, starting from Post 2, who has already acquired a mark of 1:52. The Jared Bako trainee, turned in two solid performances in the last two Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold legs at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Trainer Gregg McNair will take another crack at winning the Battle, as he sends out the undefeated Crack Shot from Post 4. The Bettors Delight colt is fresh off a pair of wins in the OSS Grassroots. The second elimination, with nine aligning, will include another McNair starter as Parlay King drew Post 5. Trained by Jodie Cullen, Blue Bar will start from Post 9 after an impressive victory in the Grassroots Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park finishing the mile in 1:52.3, throwing up an impressive last quarter in :26.4.
The filly eliminations for the Battle of the Belles will take place earlier on in the card (Races 2 and 4). Eight starters will go to the gate in the first elimination. Andrew Harris will send out Millie May Hanover out of Post 2 after a second-place finish in an OSS Gold leg at Mohawk. She will be up against the Shawn Steacy-trained Manhattan Mayhem from Post 6 after her Grassroots win at Kawartha Downs. The second elimination will feature a field of nine with the two talented daughters of McWicked, Wicked Pace (Post 2), trained by Paul Cameron, and Wicked N Single (Post 4), trained by Anthony Beaton. They will be duking it out with the John Pentland-trained Perfectly Chic, who will be starting from Post 9.
For the two Battle of Waterloo eliminations, the top four finishers will advance to the $205,000 final with a fifth-place finisher drawn by lot. Both of the Battle of the Belles eliminations will follow the same format, with the top four finishers advancing to the $140,000 final and the fifth-place finisher drawn by lot. The winner of each elimination earns a guaranteed draw between posts one and five for their respective finals. The 34th edition of Industry Day will take place on Monday, Aug. 5 with post time at 12:30 p.m.
To view Monday's harness racing entries and the complete elimination fields, click the following link: Monday Entries - Grand River Raceway.
(With files from Grand River Raceway)