Grit N Grace put both on display with a 1:59.4 victory in the $7,617 first leg of the Silk Lace Stakes at The Loop on Saturday, Aug. 17. The track record performance went along with the first leg of the Golden Boy Stakes along with an Open Pace on the nine-race card.
Driver Dean Rey quickly took command of the field of five in the Silk Lace Stake first leg, marching to the quarter in :28.2. Grit N Grace had things her way to the half in :59.1 before Choozetocruise (Glenn Le Drew) reached the leader's wheel at three-quarters in 1:29.4. Grit N Grace would rebuff the challenge, pacing away by 1-3/4 lengths on the line over Chasin Rainbows (Blake Piwniuk) to stop the clock in 1:59.4.
The homebred daughter of Im The Pied Piper-Dragonart is owned and trained by Lorraine Rey. The three-year-old rookie has won four of five to begin her career, having now banked $16,798.
The previous record of 2:00 for three-year-old pacing fillies was established by Westward Angels in September of 2023 before being matched by Choozetocruise just one week ago.
The $7,653 first leg of The Golden Boy Stakes saw Lookinlikeamillion deliver as the 1-5 favourite. Despite having to go around a breaker on the first turn, driver Richard Remillard landed Lookinlikeamillion in the pocket while Cartoon Kid laid down a first quarter of :30.3. Lookinlikeamillion popped pocket and took a short lead to the half in 1:00.4 before Catoon Kid wrestled the lead back to his inside at three-quarters in 1:32. The battle raged all the way to the wire, with Lookinlikeamillion winning the war by a half-length over Cartoon Kid in 2:02.4.
Tara Isman trains and co-owns Lookinlikeamillion along with Valerie, George and Garett Isman. The three-year-old gelded son of Armbro Baylor-Untold Millions has won two of five on the season and banked $18,768 lifetime.
One of trainer Richard Rey's three victories on the card came with Armycaptin Hanover in the $5,100 Open Pace. Protecting his rail starting position to lead the field of five to the quarter in :30.4, driver Michel Rey kept Armycaptin Hanover on the engine to the half in 1:01.1. Reaching three-quarters on top in 1:31.1, no challenge would come to Armycaptin Hanover who cruised to victory by 1-3/4 lengths over Chazmichaelmichael (Richard Remillard) in 2:00.4.
Armycaptin Hanover has won half of his 20 starts this season, hitting the board in 18 outings. Owned by Laverne Turnbull, the eight-year-old gelded son of Captaintreacherous-Allamerican Coed is a 46-time winner having banked $332,726 lifetime.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada)