McCovey Cove N ($47.30) took full advantage of a second-over trip behind duelling leaders, circling three-wide through the final quarter to spring a giant upset in Wednesday evening’s (July 26) featured $7,500 Preferred 3 pacing event for distaffers at Grand River Raceway.
A $9,500 claim from Carmen Auciello on July 4 at Georgian Downs, McCovey Cove N took full advantage of a second-row starting spot to stalk a three-way battle between Mea Lilley Mark (Bob McClure), Bad Night Mare (Travis Cullen) and Sr Beach Babe (Colin Kelly) into the first turn. After patiently tracking a :28 first quarter, trainer-driver Jason Ryan angled the seven-year-old Badlands Hanover mare into second-over cover with nine-sixteenths to go, slipstreaming Sr Beach Babe’s steady grind through the middle half to head Bad Night Mare midway up the far side.
Approaching three-quarters completion in 1:26, Sr Beach Babe managed to put away 7-5 favourite Bad Night Mare, but McCovey Cove N was poised to angle three-wide off the leader’s live cover. McCovey Cove N ultimately lifted to the fore in the final sixteenth and parried a stand-side challenge from Mach Magic (Robert Shepherd) by three-quarters of a length to prevail in 1:55.3. Sr Beach Babe was a game third after her sustained uncovered push was eclipsed, and Solid Queen (Alfie Carroll) reached fourth from a third-over trip.
McCovey Cove N’s ninth career victory was her third of 2017 and her first in three starts for new owner Jeffrey Potok. The featured win capped a driving hat trick for Ryan.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.