A set of $7,500 Preferred 3 tilts for pacers went postward Monday evening at Grand River Raceway, and in both dashes the favourites had to settle for minor shares.
J M Jet Set was a wire-to-wire winner in his assignment, and that was music the ears of the handicappers that backed him at odds of 7-1. J.R. Plante hustled the gelding through fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:26.1 before using a :30.1 closing quarter to seal the deal by a neck over Santanna Blue Chip in 1:56.2. Odds-on favourite Tendtowin was third.
Trainer Larry Ainsworth co-owns the five-year-old son of Jeremes Jet-Estherdays News with Thomas Pallander of Orlando, FL. The gelding improved his 2015 record to 4-4-3 from 27 starts with the win while pushing his lifetime earnings to $123,119 in the process.
UF Dragons Rocket pulled off an upset of minor proportions in the other Preferred event. The gelding was treated to a second-over trip in the middle stages of the mile, and he exploded home in :28.1 when called on for speed in the late going. He drew clear to win by a length over race favourite My Friend Diaz in 1:58.2. For A Bettor Time was third.
The 17-time winner, who is owned by 5527920 Manitoba Ltd of Niagara On The Lake, ON, pushed his overall cash stash to $185,146 with the win.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.