A trio of Preferred tilts went postward Monday evening at Grand River Raceway, and one of them marked the long-awaited return of OSS graduate Windsong Leo.
The four-year-old son of Jeremes Jet-Windsong Goldie, who hadn’t raced since last fall, came in Monday’s assignment with just a single qualifier under his belt. Clearly it was enough to have the pacer ready.
Windsong Leo got away sixth before being backed up to seventh at the half of the $7,500 affair for horse and geldings. He moved up to be fourth as the field headed into the closing quarter of the contest, and that’s when his back class kicked in. He brushed home in :28.1 for trainer/driver Danny O’Brian, and that was good enough to earn him the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Czar Seelster in 1:55.1. Bugger Max was third.
The victory – the eighth of his career - pushed the pacer’s earnings over $90,000. He’s owned by Everette Hanson of Maugerville, NB.
Half A Billion took the other $7,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers. The gelding survived a tough, first-over journey en route to posting a head decision over Haydens Little Man in 1:55.1. Hidden Potential took home the show dough.
Sent off as the 7-5 favourite, the four-year-old son of Sportswriter-Racey Date produced the victory for the tandem of driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Corey Giles. The OSS graduate, who is owned by Michel Letarte, Francois Letarte, Jean Allaire and Giles, is now a 10-time winner with earnings of close to $110,000.
The $7,500 Preferred 3 for trotters went to Chievous Cole, who brushed to the top shortly after the quarter pole and then drew away to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Moonbeam Hall in 1:57.3. Waikiki Hanover rounded out the Triactor ticket.
The 3-1 favourite was handled by Garrett Rooney for trainer Michael Carther. The six-year-old son of Amigo Hall-Lil Miss Chievous races for partners Larry Beck of Chatham and Brian Daly of Kent Bridge, Ont. It was the 10th career winner for the winner of $94,618.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.