Twice An Angel ($11.50) and Toot Toot N ($4.10) posted powerful front-end victories in the co-featured pacing events on Wednesday night (Aug. 28) at Grand River Raceway.
In the $8,500 Preferred 3 for distaff pacers, Twice An Angel left aggressively to protect pole position and covered the entire 1:55 mile with nary a challenge to ward off. Travis Cullen put the six-year-old Dragon Again mare in play to rebuff two other leavers off the gate, and they led pocket rival Manhattan Night (Scott Young) through splits of :27.3, :58.3 and 1:26.3. After evading the first-over challenge of Howmacfiesty (Robert Shepherd) up the backstretch, Twice An Angel edged clear from Manhattan Night to win by 1-3/4 lengths under mild urging. Dazzling Rockette (Ed Hensley), sent off the 2-1 favourite, lifted off stalled cover to claim third.
Trainer Jodie Cullen co-owns 16-time winner Twice An Angel with Jerry Hagenaars.
The $8,500 Preferred 3 for male pacers saw Toot Toot N employ nearly identical tactics, sprinting to the front while tracked by Maximus Power (Travis Henry) through early splits of :28 and :58.1. Up the backstretch, Toot Toot N turned up the pace, using a :27.4 third split to keep Sir Galahad's (Scott Coulter) first-over advance at bay before drawing off to a two-length victory in 1:54.1. Maximus Power stalked for second from the pocket, and Sir Galahad stayed on for third.
Toot Toot N, an eight-year-old Gotta Go Cullen gelding co-owned by driver Ed Hensley and trainer Ashleigh Hensley, posted his sixth win of the season and the 24th of his career.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.