Driver Colin Kelly left quickly with Willyorwonthe from post 7 and gave the field the slip to win the $11,500 Preferred 2 & 3 Trot on Monday (Aug. 2) at Grand River Raceway. He employed similar tactics to take the $8,500 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 Pace with Pretty Handsome.
In the trot, Kelly secured the top with Willyorwonthe to a :28 first quarter with Katch Kanna sitting second. The Kyle Bossence trainee continued uncontested past a :57.2 half and remained free of pressure to three-quarters in 1:26.2 as he kicked away from the faltering pocket sitter. Through the stretch, the eight-year-old Angus Hall gelding coasted to the beam to stop the clock in 1:56.3, besting Cool Muscle while Archies Star rallied for third.
Owned by Phil Maguire, Willyorwonthe won his fourth race from 11 starts this season and his 44th from 177 overall, earning $399,861. He paid $16.90 to win.
Kelly took no prisoners with even-money favourite Pretty Handsome in the Preferred Pace, going gate to wire from the pylon post in 1:53.1. He fired the Lacey McCabe trainee to the lead and posted a clip of :27.4, :56 and 1:24.1 while enduring no challenge on the lead. Kelly kicked clear of his competition in the stretch to win by open lengths over Play Jet Ray, with Freddy Bear closing for third.
A six-year-old gelding by Mach Three, Pretty Handsome won his fourth race from nine starts this season and his 34th from 77 overall, earning $339,310. Glenview Livestock Ltd. owns the $4.20 winner.
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To view Monday's compete results, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.