Five divisions of the second leg of the Prospect Series went to the gate on Wednesday (July 26) evening at Grand River Raceway with Bettin Again leading all splits with the fastest time.
Luc Blais trainee Bettin Again and driver J.R. Plante opened up the evening card, winning the $8,600 Prospect Series division for two-year-old pacing colts.
Lyons Zephr (Anthony Haughan) was the pacesetter for the field of six through the quarter in :28.2 and through the half in :59.1. He was followed by Mappo Oriley (Paul MacDonnell) with Bettin Again in third. Plante pulled his right line to send Bettin Again to the top and he took the lead from the outside at the three-quarters in 1:29. Bettin Again kept on going to win by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:57.4. Lyons Zephr finished second and Mappo Oriley was third.
Owned by Determination, the freshman Bettors Delight-Halloween Hanover son won for the first time in three starts. He paid $3.90 to win.
Wheres My Phone (Austin Sorrie) won the first split of the evening featuring two-year-old filly pacers, adding the winner's share of the $8,800 purse to her bankroll.
Sorrie and Wheres My Phone got away second behind Love On Me (Ryan Holliday) as she led the field of eight to the quarter in :29. Wicked Bling (Haughan) pulled first over and advanced to the top, pushing Love On Me to second and Wheres My Phone third as they passed the half in :59.3. Before the three-quarters in 1:28.4, Travis Cullen pulled Vivi Z from fourth and Wheres My Phone followed that cue. Wheres My Phone broke away from the pack in the stretch to win by 1-1/2 lengths, followed by Wicked Bling in second and Vivi Z in third. The final time on the clock read 1:59.1.
Ian Fleming co-owns the Big Jim-Lucky Louisa filly with trainer Gregg McNair as she collected her first win in two starts. Off at odds of 10-1, Wheres My Phone paid $22.20 to win.
Anthony Beaton trainees took the top two spots in the $8,900 pace for freshman fillies with Halva Hanover winning by 3-3/4 lengths.
Halva Hanover was second to the quarter in :30.1 behind Lyons Shine On (J Harris) before taking command of the eight-horse field. Halva Hanover led the freshman fillies through the half in 1:01 and three-quarters in 1:31. With a last quarter in :29.1, Halva Hanover crossed the wire 3-3/4 lengths the best in 2:00.1. Lyons Shine On was second and Mc Paisley (Mario Baillargeon) rounded out the top three.
Halva Hanover won her first race in two starts for Anthony Beaton, David Mercer, Mac Nichol and Robert Jones. The Bettors Delight-Holla Hanover daughter paid $2.90 to win.
Flag Party (Sorrie) used a first-over trip at the half to win the second division for freshman boys that featured seven colts competing for the $8,700 bounty.
My Ding A Ling (Tyler Borth) was the pacesetter for the mile and clocked the first panel in :28.4 while Flag Party got away in fourth. Sorrie pulled Flag Party first over through the half in :59.1 and kept on the advance as they passed the three-quarters in 1:28.4. Around the final turn, Flag Party took over and blasted down the stretch to an 8-1/4-length victory in 1:59. Bettors Rush (Travis Henry) finished second and Jayport Beach Boy (Baillargeon) was third.
A two-year-old son of Stag Party-Sassafras Girl, Flag Party is trained by Gregg McNair for Anthony Ciuffetelli as he won his debut career appearance. He paid $10.90 to win.
Prospect Series action concluded for the evening with Quiet Assurances and Bruce Richardson taking the $8,800 division for freshman filly pacers.
Cheddarisbetter (Sorrie) led the field of eight to the quarter in :30.3 and half in :1:03.3. She was followed in pursuits by Diamond Girl (Borth), Wickedly Devilish (Henry), and then Quiet Assurances in fourth. Richardson had the Susie Kerwood trainee on the move before the half, chipping away at the leader and finally taking over command from the outside through the three-quarters in 1:31.2. Quiet Assurances kept on going to open up to a 3-1/2-length achievement in 2:00.1. Cheddarisbetter took second and Diamond Girl was third.
Quiet Assurances (Control The Moment-Unspoken Promise) made her first winner's circle appearance in two starts for owners Howard Taylor and Falcon Racing LLC. She paid $3.70 to win.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.