It was a card dedicated to the rookies at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening, as the Elora, Ontario half-mile oval played host to the eliminations for the Battle of Waterloo and the Battle of the Belles
.
Freshmen pacing colts and geldings were divided into a quartet of Battle of Waterloo elims with the top two finishers from each affair advancing to next Monday afternoon’s $300,000 final. One third place finisher will also be drawn by lot to make the cut to the big dance.
Fillies squared off in four eliminations for the inaugural edition of the Battle of the Belles. The top two finishers from those eliminations plus one third-place finisher drawn by lot will go toe-to-toe in next Monday’s $150,000 final.
Here’s a recap of what transpired in the various eliminations:
Battle Of Waterloo Elims
After paying a $20,000 supplement to get into the race, Future Million was quick to recover $14,500 of that payment with a decisive score in 1:56 for trainer Donald Lowes, who bred and co-owns the son of Million Dollar Cam-Future Champion with Kerry Lowes of Princeton, ON.
Simon Allard hustled the speedy youngster to immediate command, and the colt rolled through panels of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:25.3 before coasting home in :30.2 to break his maiden in a time of 1:56. Brusiers Brother was second and Raging Grin rounded out the top three. Future Million, who owns a 1-3-0 record in his first four tries, has banked $68,647 to date.
Jack Moiseyev picked up a “live” catch drive in the second elimination behind the Dr. Ian Moore-trained Wellthereyougo, who halted the teletimer in 1:55.4. The son of Camluck-Cheeky Hanover, who was sent off as the 4-5 favourite, cleared to the top at the mid-way point and easily defeated Wave That Banner, who was third-placed-second. Businessorpleasure was fourth-placed-third.
P L Dangerous, who was second to cross the finish line, was placed back to seventh for causing interference to other rivals while off stride in the early stages of the mile.
It was the second win in just four starts for the colt, who has banked $35,450 to date for Moore and partners Serge Savard of Saint-Bruno, QC and R G McGroup Ltd. of Bathurst, NB. The pacer was a $45,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
The third elimination had race favourite Adrenaline written all over it, as noted in his closing odds of 4-5. The son of Mach Three-Sand Sweetness took over command shortly after the quarter pole for Rick Zeron, who sliced out middle splits of :56 and 1:26.3 before kicking out a :29.1 final frame en route to the 1:55.4 decision. Longshot Stonebridge Tonic was second best and Western Thorn took home the show dough.
Gerald Mijal of Westland, MI holds the papers on the colt, who now owns a 2-0-1 record in his first four starts. The lion’s share of the purse lifted his lifetime earnings to $35,300.
The final elimination went to a well-meant winner named Lyons Danny, who front-stepped to a 1:55.2 victory for driver Jack Moiseyev. The $14,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale hung up panels of :30, :59 and 1:27.1 before powering home in :28.1 to stop the clock in 1:55.2. It was the fourth win in five tries for the son of Astreos-Croquette Hanover, who defeated Youkeepmehangingon and OK Canada.
Shawn Robinson conditions the talented youngster for owner Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford, ON. The win lifted the juvenile’s lifetime earnings to $81,895.
Battle Of The Belles Elims
Despite drawing post seven, Mother Hen was an easy winner for Team Jamieson in the first elimination for the fillies. The Banner Yankee-Taylor Lynne filly rolled to the top before giving way to Tymal Dalia. That foe laid down middle splits of :57.4 and 1:27 before coming under attack from Mother Hen. Jody Jamieson angled the Carl Jamieson trainee off the pylons and sprinted to the lead and the win in 1:57. Tymal Dalia was second and third prize went to race favourite Windsong Gentille.
Carl Jamieson, Arthur Slack Stable, Jerry Jamieson and Gerald Rattray holds the papers on the rookie, who was victorious for the first time in three starts this season. The homebred has banked $12,360 to date.
Fresh off her win in the $130,000 OSS Gold Series final at Mohawk Racetrack, Tiz To Dream handled the move to Grand River Raceway’s half-mile with any problem for Team McNair. The daughter of Grinfromeartoear-Extreme Dream carved out panels of :29.2, :59.2 and 1:28.4 for driver Doug McNair, who used a :29.1 final quarter with his charge to post the 1:58 victory over Lyons Anitacol and Holiday Shopper.
Trainer Gregg McNair co-owns the filly with fellow Guelph, ON resident Paul Kidd. The partners, who shelled out a mere $9,000 to purchase the filly at last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale, have watched their investment bank more than $100,000 while putting together a 3-1-1 record in her first five starts.
Driver Scott Zeron picked up a last minute catch-drive aboard FBs Terror when programmed teamster Paul MacDonell was a “no show”, and it proved to be a lucrative ride for the young reinsman. Zeron worked out a pocket trip for the Mario Macri student, who popped out late and used a :29.2 closing quarter to post a 1:57.4 maiden-breaking win over The Big Scoop and Classic Gem.
Michael Guerriero of Moffat, ON shelled out $12,000 to purchase the daughter of Western Terror-Speedy Shopper at last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale, and she banked just over $16,000 in her first three starts.
The dreaded eight-hole proved to be no problem for Deliciouslynaughty, who rallied into a slowing pace and posted a 1:58.3 victory for driver Mario Baillargeon in the final elimination. The Mark Etsell-trained daughter of Mach Three-Naught Enough Hare picked off the heavily-favoured pacesetter, Western Dancing, in the final strides. Third prize went to Miss All Fun.
Bred and owned by David Snowden of Bowmanville, ON, Deliciouslynaughty is now perfect in two career starts. The lion’s share of Monday’s purse lifted her overall earnings to $23,500.
The post position draw for the Battle of Waterloo will be delayed pending a hearing at the Ontario Racing Commission. The connections of P L Dangerous have appealed the ORC Judges’ decision to place their colt from second to seventh in Monday’s fourth race.
Here are the results of the post position draw for the Battle of the Belles, which will be carded as part of next Monday afternoon’s Industry Day program at Grand River Raceway. Here are the fields:
$150,000 Battle of the Belles
1. The Big Scoop
2. Western Dancing
3. Mother Hen
4. FBs Terror
5. Tymal Dalia
6. Deliciouslynaughty
7. Miss All Fun
8. Tiz To Dream
9. Lyons Anitacol
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click here.