Driver Daryl Thiessen caught fire on Friday, July 4 at Grand River Raceway with six wins from seven drives on the 10-race card, including a 21-1 longshot.
The seventh-year reinsman kicked off the card in optimal fashion – winning the first three races in succession. In the opener, he sent Show Me The Green ($6.30) on a third-quarter brush, and the Green Manalishi S-One Girl Show It filly powered home to win by three lengths in 1:58.4, breaking her maiden for trainer Kyle Ruhl and owner Triple S Equine.
Thiessen combined with trainer Jake Roberts to win the second and third races. In the former, the favoured four-year-old Muscle Mass-Stonebridge Cream gelding Stonebridge Glee ($3.40) recovered from multiple breaks behind the gate, flying from last to win by a half-length in a career-best 1:56.3 for owner Russell Ellis. Raising Sand ($10.60) jogged in the third, winning by eight lengths in 1:54.3. The performance brought a new career mark for the six-year-old Steve Adams-owned Sportswriter-Drag N Sand gelding.
After his first loss of the night when Js Shesrealspecial broke in the fourth race, Thiessen was right back in the winner’s circle as he won Race 5 with Sporty Bee ($3.60). The five-year-old son of Sportswriter-Miss Mittzie Bee left the pocket on the final turn and forged to the front down the stretch to a one-length 1:53.3 victory for trainer Jack Moiseyev and owners High Stakes Inc., Nancy MacNevin, and Mark Mainprize.
Thiessen then returned in the ninth to guide Safe Passage ($44.30) to a coast-to-coast upset victory by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2. The Mike McClennan-conditioned five-year-old Bettors Delight-Tatiana Seelster mare took a new speed badge with the win. McClennan shares ownership with Phyllis McClennan.
The driver completed his performance as he sent Chip Happened ($3.40) on a first-over march at the half in the finale, and the Lookslikeachpndale-A Promise Made gelding marched strongly to the front, drawing clear to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. James McKague trains the four-year-old and co-owns him with Jan McKague Weishar.
Thiessen improved his seasonal win total to 175 with the stupendous evening, putting him 11 away from eclipsing his previous best year. The Rockton, Ont.-based driver is also on pace to set a new personal record in earnings and UDRS.
To view Friday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results – Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)