A set of Preferred events went postward Monday evening at Grand River Raceway, and when the dust settled it was Ride Away Shark and Adore Him coming away victorious in their respective assignments.
First up was Ride Away Shark who was a popular winner in the $8,500 Preferred 3 for filly and mare pacers.
Travis Henry got away third with the Scott McNiven pupil while Katniss S BG marched to the top and led the group past the quarter pole in :28. Henry had his charge on the move in the second quarter, and by the time the half flashed up in :57.4 it was Ride Away Shark brushing her way to the lead.
She continued to lead the way past the three-quarter marker in 1:25.3 before using a :29.1 final frame to secure the win by 2-3/4 lengths over Dazzling Rockette in 1:54.4. Make Mine Mocha rallied to finish third.
Sent off as the 2-1 favourite, the seven-year-old daughter of Classic Card Shark-Freedom Away improved this year’s record to 6-5-3 from 24 starts with the win. The 29-time winner has banked $367,088 to date.
Adore Him stretched his winning streak to two-in-a-row thanks to a come-from-behind triumph in the $8,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers.
Brocks Fortune shot to the front, but was overtaken by Always N The Money at the opening quarter in :28.2. Always N The Money then led the field past the half in :58, while Adore Him rallied off the rail and started his first-over march toward the leader.
Adore Him showed a short lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:26, and he then used a :29-second final frame to post the win by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Always N The Money in 1:55. Smooth Mara N was a well-beaten third.
Robert Blake of Clinton, Ont. owns the seven-year-old son of Shadow Play-Respectednbeloved, who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Paul Taylor. The gelding owns a 6-3-2 record from 17 trips to the track this season. The 31-time winner upped his lifetime earnings to $176,991 with the victory.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.