Grand River Raceway hosts a pair of $105,000 Gold Series divisions for the three-year-old trotting colts on Friday, Aug. 23 and the second division features a showdown between the top two colts in the division.
Buddy Hally and Thankyoukessel share top spot in the point standings, having accumulated one win and one third-place result through the first two Gold Series legs for a total of 62 points. Both colts also competed in the Aug. 10 Mid-Summer Challenge at Mohawk Racetrack, with Buddy Hally finishing a narrowly beaten second and Thankyoukessel crossing the wire fifth.
Gregg McNair trainee Buddy Hally capped off his freshman season with a Grassroots Championship victory over the Grand River Raceway oval and the Angus Hall colt will be looking to replicate that effort from Post 4 in Friday’s sixth race. Through 10 starts this season the colt has posted one win, two seconds and two thirds for $89,460 in earnings. Guelph resident McNair shares ownership of the colt with Howmac Farms of North Wiltshire, PE, Reginald MacPherson of Stratford, PE and Wayne MacRae of Fall River, NS.
In addition to his Gold Series victory, Thankyoukessel has posted two other wins this season, including the final of the Canadian Breeders Championship at Mohawk Racetrack on July 20. Through nine starts the Ken Warkentin gelding has three wins and one third for earnings of $114,955.
Joe MacIsaac conditions Thankyoukessel for owner-breeder Carolyn Williston of Moffat. The gelding will make his bid for a fourth win from Post 7 in Race 6.
Also making his bid for a Gold Series triumph in the second division is fifth-ranked Gotta Secret, who will benefit from Post 2. The Muscle Mass colt, trained by Richard Moreau for Gestion Jean Yves Blais of Montreal, QC, set a track record over the Grand River Raceway oval last fall in his Grassroots Semifinal.
The three-year-old trotting colts will duel in Races 2 and 6 on Friday, with Grand River Raceway’s first race going postward at 7:05 p.m.
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To view entries for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Entries – Grand River Raceway.