Love That Smile ($4.00) etched her name in the Grand River Raceway record books by way of a 1:54.2 win in her $10,000 elimination of the Battle of the Belles, for Ontario-sired two-year-old pacing fillies, on Monday (July 26) at Grand River Raceway.
The daughter of Sportswriter and Smileallthewayhome angled out from third into a :57.2 half led by Cheryls Shadow, advanced through the clubhouse turn and duelled into a narrow lead through a :27.3 third sectional, and powered clear to win by 3-1/2 widening lengths in line to Louis-Philippe Roy. Cheryls Shadow (James MacDonald) held second, eight lengths in front of third-place finisher Marykeeponburnin (Jody Jamieson) finished third. Rhone Hanover (Mike Whelan), who gapped the third-quarter duel after securing the pocket early, faded to fourth.
Trainer Rene Bourassa co-owns Love That Smile, a two-time winner in four starts to date, with the M&S Racing Stable, Gilles Caouette and Marc Gelinas. Love That Smile's 1:54.2 clocking equalled the track record for two-year-old pacing fillies, held jointly by Right On Molly and Alicorn.
Warrawee Xpat ($7.40) won the other Belles elimination in pillar-to-post fashion, clearing from post five in line to Jody Jamieson and coasting through splits of :27.4, :58.1 and 1:27.2 before parrying a mild challenge from pocket rival Speak Your Mind (Tyler Moore) to win by a length in 1:55.4. Big Bettor Hanover (Mike Saftic) stalked the top pair throughout and maintained third; Dewitt For Josie (Roy) was a ground-saving fourth.
Gabriella Sasso trains Warrawee Xpat, who previously won an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots event at Woodbine Mohawk Park, for Jeffrey Courchesne and the Martwest Racing Stable.
The field for the $145,060 Battle Of The Belles Final is as follows:
1. Love That Smile
2. Big Bettor Hanover
3. Warrawee Xpat
4. Speak Your Mind
5. Cheryls Shadow
6. Stonebridge Thalia
7. Dewitt For Josie
8. Rhone Hanover
9. Marykeeponburnin
AE Darby Ogill
Among the 18 rookie pacing colts and geldings to contest their $15,000 eliminations for the Battle of Waterloo, Betterhavemymoney ($2.90) took top honours with a 1:54.2 performance and improved to a perfect three-for-three in his young career.
James MacDonald landed the two-time OSS Gold winner in the pocket behind Twin B Raptor (Trevor Henry) through a :27.4 first quarter before brushing to the lead on the second turn. After pulling the half back to :57.1, Betterhavemymoney was nudged along up the backstretch by the first-over Stews Watching (Sylvain Filion), reaching three-quarters in 1:26.1 before kicking on the afterburners in the stretch for a 4-1/2-length score. Twin B Raptor held second at 17-1 over Stone Carver (Mike Saftic), who circled off third-over cover for third. Stews Watching held fourth despite languishing late after his extended uncovered push.
Nick Gallucci trains Betterhavemymoney, a Millar Farms homebred by Betterthanchedar out of Whosluckierthanme.
Erinwood Yves ($4.80) rode the pocket and rolled up the open stretch to capture the other Waterloo elimination in 1:55.1, breaking his maiden in the act. Jody Jamieson situated the son of State Treasurer and Zayra Bayama behind early pacesetter Century Inspector (Moore) through a :27.4 first quarter, and the pair remained glued on Century Inspector's helmet through middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:26.3. Despite being boxed in by the first-over Ron (Roy) through the second circuit, Erinwood Yves was able to accelerate quickly enough up the open stretch to find the winning post in time, collaring Century Inspector by a head in 1:55.1. Ron finished third, three lengths behind; Sports Box (Trevor Henry) was fourth despite failing to sustain a three-wide bid on the home turn.
Gabriella Sasso trains Erinwood Yves, who had previously finished second and third in two Gold events, for Erinwood Equine Inc., Jeffrey Courchesne and the Martwest Racing Stable.
The $251,050 Battle Of Waterloo Final field is as follows:
1. Century Inspector
2. Sports Box
3. Erinwood Yves
4. Stone Carver
5. Betterhavemymoney
6. Ron
7. Stews Watching
8. Nassau Hanover
9. Twin B Raptor
AE Dreamfair Arnie B
Industry Day is held annually at Grand River Raceway in celebration of the harness racing industry. The event takes place on the holiday Monday in August each year and boasts an incredible line up of racing action, including the $251,050 Battle of Waterloo and $145,060 Battle of the Belles. With a post time of 12:30 p.m. (EDT), guests can expect an afternoon packed with racing entertainment.
For Monday's complete results, click the following link: Monday Results - Grand River Raceway.