Despite being out of action since June 28, Bradley Grant’s Heels On The Beach ($5.50) proved best in Wednesday night’s (August 2) featured $10,000 Preferred 2 for pacing fillies and mares at Grand River Raceway.
Alfie Carroll wasted no time with the four-year-old daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, sprinting through at the pegs to force Dudesalady (Paul MacKenzie) into the pocket through the first sixteenth of the mile. After clicking off a :27.3 first quarter, Heels On The Beach kept mild yet sustained first-over pressure from Top Royal (J Harris) at bay through middle splits of :56.1 and 1:25 before turning aside that foe before reaching the far turn. Heels On The Beach ultimately kicked away at head-stretch at first asking, defeating pocket rival Dudesalady by a measured 2-1/4 lengths in 1:54.3. A Plus (Scott Young) saved ground throughout to narrowly reach third over last week’s Preferred 3 winner McCovey Cove N (Jason Ryan), who was forced three-wide around stalled cover into the final turn.
Richard Moreau trains Heels On The Beach, who earned the seventh win of her career.
The sub-featured $7,500 Preferred 3 distaff pace saw Mohawk invader Whistys Paradise ($9.50) sustain a steady first-over push from midfield to overpower the pacesetting 3-2 favourite Solid Queen (Carroll) with a quarter mile to go and draw off to a handy 5-1/2 length victory. Jason Ryan drove the seven-year-old Western Paradise mare, now a 28-time winner, for owner Gordon Hart and trainer Scott Friend.
Solid Queen narrowly held second over Mach Magic (Robert Shepherd), who mounted a belated rally up the open stretch.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.