Twenty Three Red posted a major upset in the top distaff pace on Wednesday (July 31) at Grand River Raceway, while veteran Whiskey Tax lived up to favoured billing in the night's top trotting event.
In the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace for fillies and mares, Twenty Three Red ($50.60) defied long odds to narrowly prevail for the fifth time this season.
The six-year-old daughter of Mach Three came away second from last in the field of seven distaffers while Regal Luck (Scott Young) strode out to control early splits of :28 and :58.1. With a circuit to go, Alfie Carroll angled Twenty Three Red into live second-over cover, and the pair were towed into contention by 5-2 favourite Krushed Apple (Robert Shepherd) up the backstretch.
After Krushed Apple forced Regal Luck to three-quarters in 1:27.2, Carroll angled Twenty Three Red off cover nearing head-stretch. Upon straightening out for home, she accelerated to eclipse her cover and collar the longtime pacesetter by a head. Lo Hold A Moonbean (Jason Ryan) chased up the open stretch to just miss the runner-up spot.
Richard Moreau trains 15-time winner Twenty Three Red for Macks Stable.
The $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot saw Whiskey Tax ($5.20) live up to his billing as the 8-5 favourite and record his second win in three starts at Grand River this season.
The 21-time winner commenced his first-over journey as early pacesetter Sicario (Carroll) neared a :58 half mile, having been angled out from third by Scott Young upon exiting the second turn. Up the backstretch, Whiskey Tax forced a quickening tempo, prompting a :29 third sectional before duelling to the fore a sixteenth from home. The 11-year-old Revenue S gelding took over under a full-on drive and held off a stand-side rally from All Out Henry (Doug Brown) to win in 1:57.2 by three-quarters of a length. Sicario finished a beaten third.
Trainer Tom Durand shares ownership of Whiskey Tax with June Durand and Allan Smith.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.