The stage is set for next week's Industry Day after a pair of $10,000 eliminations for the Battle of the Belles for Ontario-sired two-year-old pacing fillies were won by Daya and Romantic Beauty on Monday, July 28 at Grand River Raceway ahead of next week's $153,000 final, with the latter scoring in a track record 1:52.2.
In the second elimination, Romantic Beauty (pictured above) overtook 3-5 favourite Jen Tilly late, holding her off down the stretch for a 7-1 maiden victory in her first lifetime start. Driven by Doug McNair and trained by Gregg McNair, the new divisional track record holder is a homebred Bettors Delight-Precious Beauty filly, owned by James Avritt Sr. of Lebanon, Kentucky. P N G Shadow and Horse With A Plan finished third and fourth to advance to the final.
In addition to being a track record, the mile is also currently the fastest mile by any freshman pacer over a Canadian five-eighth-mile track this year.
"Time-wise, I'm pretty surprised. She's had three qualifiers, and Doug [McNair] liked her pretty good all along...It's tough to get him to like one," said Gregg McNair, speaking with Greg Blanchard in the winner's circle. "She had a virus and a bit of a high temperature, she was up around 103-104 [degrees Fahrenheit], so we had to take her out [of the OSS Grassroots leg one on July 7 at Woodbine Mohawk Park] and wait on her, that's all. She had a sister [Precocious Beauty] one time who started out the same way [in the 2013 New York Sire Stakes]."
McNair said that Romantic Beauty didn't show much physical similarity to a half-sister he once trained, the 2013 Dan Patch and O'Brien Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the year.
"Her sister, Precocious Beauty, was a big mare," he said. "This mare here is more like the sire, I guess, Bettors Delight. She's trained pretty good all winter. I wasn't looking for that tonight, though."
In the first of two $10,000 Battle of the Belles eliminations on Monday night, 4-5 favourite Daya emerged the 1:53.3 winner over T H Check Me Out in race two. Lavender Seelster and Malicia Speed finished third and fourth to also advance.
Trainer Jack Darling told interviewer Blanchard about Daya's preparation for the elim: "I didn't change anything. [It was] just a very mild week. This track is noted for being easy to get around, so I wasn't worried about anything."
Daya is a homebred Bulldog Hanover-Beach Of A Time daughter owned by Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge, Ont.
Darling told Blanchard that she was "really good from day one, very honest. She's a filly that likes her work and that really helps."
Darling trained world champion Bulldog Hanover; Daya is from the stallion's first crop.
"It's really exciting. I watch all of them and I cheer for all of them," said Darling. "They're just outstanding-looking horses. The ones that I'm training are very smart and have speed. They seem to have everything going for them."
Prior to Daya's elimination win, she broke her maiden in going-away style on July 7, capturing an OSS Grassroots leg one division at Mohawk, then finished second to A Clean Deal in the July 17 OSS Gold leg two at Mohawk.
"I was happy with her effort," said Darling. "[She] looked honest on the top. Jody [Jamieson] said she was really good, seemed to win in hand, so she's a little bit like the old man Bulldog -- she doesn't really get tired coming to the wire. After the wire, she keeps going."
The top four fillies from each elimination and one other drawn by lot (Talbot Kristen) moved into the draw for the $153,000 Battle of the Belles final, conducted after race four on Monday night. The field is listed below.
$153,000 Battle of the Belles
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. TH Check Me Out - James MacDonald - Blake MacIntosh
2. Malicia Speed - Doug McNair - Carl Jamieson
3. Romantic Beauty - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair
4. Lavender Seelster - Paul MacKenzie - Dr. Ian Moore
5. Daya - Jody Jamieson - Jack Darling
6. Talbot Kristen - Bob McClure - John Pentland
7. Horse With A Plan - Travis Cullen - Jodie Cullen
8. Jen Tilly - James MacDonald - Scott McEneny
9. P N G Shadow - Jody Jamieson - Dr. Ian Moore
With no eliminations required, the $227,100 Battle of Waterloo final for Ontario-sired two-year-old open pacers was drawn before the Grand River simulcast with a field of eight slated to go on Monday, Aug. 4. The field is listed below.
$227,100 Battle of Waterloo
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer
1. Borderline Mobby - James MacDonald - Dave Menary
2. Ryder Ross - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair
3. Beau Jangles - Bob McClure - Dr. Ian Moore
4. Tilthecowscomehome - Jody Jamieson - Carl Jamieson
5. Speaksoftlytome - Louis-Philippe Roy - Dave Menary
6. No Waitlist - Travis Henry - Tyler Moore
7. D A Lets Dance - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair
8. Dax Seelster - Trevor Henry - Scott McEneny
The likely favourite is Beau Jangles, the undefeated Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill colt trained by Dr. Ian Moore. The former $90,278 Standardbred Horse Sale yearling has two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold victories at Mohawk so far this year for driver Bob McClure and owners Graham Grace Stables of Clifton, Virginia, Kiwi Stables of La Plata, Maryland and Bolton Stables of Clermont, Florida. Bred by Tara Hills Stud Ltd. of Port Perry, Ont., Beau Jangles is the fastest two-year-old pacer so far this season in North America by virtue of a 1:50.1 triumph.
Borderline Mobby drew the coveted rail for the Battle of Waterloo. The Dave Menary trainee broke his maiden in his first career start on June 28 at Mohawk before a pair of fourth-place finishes in OSS Gold legs for driver James MacDonald. Borderline Mobby, a Cattlewash-Hot Gossip colt who sold for $34,722 as a yearling at the Standardbred Horse Sale, was bred by Nicholas Malcolm of Milton, Ont. The colt is owned by Menary Racing Inc. of Rockton, Ont. Larry Menary of Branchton, Ont., Ryan Morefield of Howell, Michigan and Pit Bull Stable of River Vale, New Jersey.
Tilthecowscomehome, a Cattlewash-Dance Until Dawn colt, is another Battle of Waterloo headliner. Trained by Carl Jameson and driven by Jody Jamieson, the $94,595 Lexington Selected Sale yearling acquisition was bred by Stephanie Smith-Rothaug of West Jefferson, Ohio. Tilthecowscomehome won the Tompkins-Geers two-year-old colt and gelding pace at Mohawk on June 27 over 1-5 favourite Dad, then finished a fast-closing second to Beau Jangles on July 5 and 19 from tough outside posts. Joanne Morrison of Beeton, Ont. and Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta. share ownership with Carl and Jody Jamieson.
Grand River Raceway will welcome guests for the 36th annual Industry Day, happening on Civic Holiday Monday, Aug. 4, with a 12:30 p.m. post time. It’s an exciting afternoon packed with top-tier harness racing and fun for the entire family.
Winbak Farm will return as the Battle of Waterloo presenting sponsor for the fourth year in a row. The marquee attractions of Industry Day include, the $227,100 Battle of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farm, and its companion race, the $153,000 Battle of the Belles -- both spotlighting Ontario-sired two-year-old pacers. The Battle of Waterloo continues to stand as Grand River's signature event and a key early highlight in the Ontario stakes season. The undercard will feature thrilling matchups, including Ontario’s top three-year-old pacing colts competing in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division.
In a significant show of support for the sport, the Grand River Agricultural Society (GRAS) has boosted the purses for several undercard races, including the Preferred events, which will now each offer a purse of $20,000. This investment reflects GRAS’s understanding of the critical role horse racing plays -- not only for the horsepeople directly involved, but also for the broader agricultural sector and rural communities across Ontario.
“Industry Day is all about celebrating Ontario harness racing, and we’re proud to take it to the next level this year with increase in purse money for this special day,” said Jenna MacDonell, Raceway Manager at Grand River Raceway. “We’re grateful to the Grand River Agricultural Society for their continued support, and to Winbak Farm for once again joining us as the title sponsor of the Battle of Waterloo."
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(With files from Grand River Raceway)