The battle lines are set after Grand River Raceway hosted eliminations for the Battle of the Belles and Battle of Waterloo on Monday, July 31.
Sweeps were the order of the night, with trainer Bob McIntosh taking home both $15,000 Battle of Waterloo eliminations and driver Louis-Philippe Roy having his photo taken after both $10,000 Battle of the Belles elims.
Do Better didn't clear until about the three-eighths point in his Battle of Waterloo elimination but once he did the 3-5 choice looked like a 1-9 favourite. After forging to the front through a :27.4 opening panel, Sylvain Filion settled the colt on the lead around the far turn and stole a :59.4 middle half by virtue of a :57.2 half and 1:27.3 third panel. With a :28.2 closing quarter, Do Better had plenty left to hold off Enforcer (Doug McNair) by a length and a half and trip the timer in 1:56. Chalk Hanover (Bob McClure) and Mcwicked Time (James MacDonald) finished third and fourth, respectively, to qualify for the Battle of Waterloo final.
Do Better (Bettors Delight-West Third Street) is co-owned by his trainer Bob McIntosh along with Al Mcintosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington, Ont. and Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont. He's now unbeaten in four appearances with $78,550 in earnings, and he paid $3.20 to win.
Always A Thrill also delivered as the public choice, taking a different route to the winner's circle. Driver Bob McClure sat the 4-5 favourite in the pocket behind Stopwatch through fractions of :29.4, 1:00.1 and 1:29.3. When first-over challenger Max Patrick (Jody Jamieson) rolled offstride heading into the far turn for the final time, McClure patiently made his move from the pocket and angled Always A Thrill to the outside. Stopwatch tried to battle back, but Always A Thrill was too fresh after that journey and brushed by for the 1:57.2 decision by half a length. Crush Kill Destroy (Tyler Borth) and Manhawk (James MacDonald) rounded out the automatically advancing top four, with Max Patrick also making the cut.
Another McIntosh homebred, Always A Thrill (Bettors Delight-Somethinincredible) is co-owned by McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, Ont., Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, Ont., and Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont. The win was his first in three tries, lifting his earnings to $14,430 in the process. He returned $3.90 to win.
Roy has a decision to make for next week's Battle of the Belles final after driving both Collusion Hanover and Pass Line to victory in their respective elims.
Collusion Hanover got away fifth in the field of six freshman pacing fillies as Bonitas Best Bet (Doug McNair) led the field to the opening panel in :28. After a miscue from the favourite in center pack, Collusion Hanover sat fourth at the half in :58.3 before moving first over en route to the 1:28 third panel. Down the stretch, Collusion Illusion challenged the pacesetting Bonitas Best Bet and the Luc Blais trainee prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.4 How Much (Bob McClure) finished third. Rounding out the top four as a finalist contender was T H Jackies Legacy (Travis Cullen).
Determination of Montreal, Que. owns Collusion Hanover (Bettors Delight-Covfefe). She now owns a career record of 2-0-1 in four starts, and she paid $6.90 to win this one.
Pass Line made every pole a winning one as she controlled the tempo through panels in :28.1, :57.2 and 1:27 before winning by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3. Greatest Pleasure (J.R. Plante) finished second with Pasta Delight (Jody Jamieson) third. Also grabbing spots in the final were Peeler (McClure), who finished fourth, and fifth-place finisher Cheese Party (Trevor Henry).
David Menary trains Pass Line (All Bets Off-Breakheart Pass) for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. With the win, where she paid $2.40, she moves her career record to 4-0-1 in five starts with $83,178 earned.
Next Monday, Aug. 7, the $205,200 Battle of the Waterloo and $138,400 Battle Of The Belles finals will be contested at Grand River. The draw has been completed for each race with the results below:
$205,200 Battle Of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farm
Post - Horse - Elim Driver - Trainer
1. Max Patrick - Jody Jamieson - Gabriella Sasso
2. Chalk Hanover - Bob McClure - David Menary
3. Do Better - Sylvain Filion - Robert Mcintosh
4. McWicked Time - James MacDonald - Robert Robinson
5. Always A Thrill - Bob McClure - Robert Mcintosh
6. Stopwatch - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair
7. Manhawk - James MacDonald - Scott McEneny
8. Crush Kill Destroy - Tyler Borth - Per Engblom
9. Enforcer - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair
$138,400 Battle Of The Belles
Post - Horse - Elim Driver - Trainer
1. Collusion Hanover - Louis-Philippe Roy - Luc Blais
2. Greatest Pleasure - J.R. Plante - Luc Blais
3. Peeler - Bob McClure - Robert Mcintosh
4. Pass Line - Louis-Philippe Roy - David Menary
5. Cheese Party - Trevor Henry - Kyle Bossence
6. Bonitas Best Bet - Doug McNair - David Menary
7. Pasta Delight - Jody Jamieson - Anthony Beaton
8. How Much - Bob McClure - David Menary
9. T H Jackies Legacy - Travis Cullen - Jodie Cullen
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Grand River Raceway.