Hall of Famers Bob McIntosh and John Campbell joined forces to capture the 17th annual Battle Of Waterloo Final with Go Daddy Go during the 24th edition of Industry Day at Grand River Raceway.
Go Daddy Go was parked every step of the way while chasing Mikes Powerhouse (:28.3) and Bob Ben And John (:56.4 and 1:25.3), but he dug down deep in the lane and his :29.1 closing quarter was enough to earn him the win by 1-1/4 lengths over race favourite Sporting The Look. Bob Ben And John was third.
The two-year-old son of Ponder-Sanfrancine, who is a homebred owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc of Windsor and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, Ontario, now owns a 2-2-1 record from five trips to the track. The victory also bumped his cash stash to $144,720.
Here's a recap of what transpired on the undercard:
$138,000 Battle Of The Belles
Win The Gold got up in the final strides to capture her first ever victory, and boy did she pick a good time to win. The two-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Full Of Gold halted the teletimer in 1:55.2 for driver James MacDonald and trainer Tony O’Sullivan.
Business Is Usual led the field around the first turn before making a break and scattering the field. Race favourite Sports Chic then rushed to the front and sliced out fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:26 before coming under heavy pressure from MacDonald and Win The Gold, who used a :28.4 kicker to win by a neck over Sports Chic. Rounding out the top three finishers was Capelo.
Bred and owned by Emerald Highlands Farm of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Win The Gold improved her rookie record to 1-2-0 from three starts with the win. The winner’s share of the purse bumped her earnings to $85,000.
$30,000 Battle Of Waterloo Consolation
Seaforth had a shaky performance in last Monday’s Battle Of Waterloo eliminations, but he was solid as a rock in today’s follow-up performance.
Mike Saftic got away sixth with the gelding while Twin B Scandal zipped to the front and threw down big fractions of :26.2 and :56.3 before being overtaken by Single White Sock at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1. Seaforth made a three-wide move going around the last turn and closed in :30.1 to win by two lengths in 1:56.4. Lyons Jimmydean swept home late to grab the runner-up award, while the show spot was earned by Jet Settin Matt.
It was a 5-1 upset for Seaforth, who is a homebred trained by Eric Adams for owner/breeder Millar Farms of Newmarket, Ontario. It was a maiden-breaking victory for the career winner of $27,100.
$25,000 Battle Of The Belles Consolation
Delightful Hill rallied and used last second heroics to capture this tilt in 1:56.1 for driver Billy Davis, Jr.
The two-year-old daughter of Art Colony-Uneek Delight got away fourth while Northern Starlet shot to the top and supplied fractions of :28, :56.3 and 1:25.3. Delightful Hill worked her way up first-over and used a :30.2 closing quarter to win by half a length over Northern Starlet in 1:56.1. Akissfromtheart, who was the longest shot on the board at odds of 20-1, finished third.
Tom Hill of Lancashire, Great Britain bred and owns the pacing lass, who was sent off as the 3-2 favourite in the seven-filly affair. The victor improved her record to 2-0-1 from four trips to the track. The lion’s share of the loot lifted her cash stash to $35,545.
$70,000 OSS Gold Series – 1st division
Jet Airway turned in an historical performance over the half-mile oval when he captured the first of three $70,000 OSS Gold Series divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The speedy son of Jeremes Jet-Aromatic halted the teletimer in 1:51.1 for driver Randy Waples. The time eclipsed the former track standard of 1:52.2 held jointly by Prodigal Seelster (2011) and Dull Roar (2013). It also went down as an OSS record, erasind the former mark of 1:51.3 set by Giddy Up Lucky (2008) at Flamboro Downs.
Randy Waples got away fourth with the Tony Alagna-trained favourite while Bugger Bruiser shot to the front and carved out fractions of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:23. Jet Airway commenced a first-over rally going to the half, and he gradually worked first-over before using a :28-second final frame to win by seven lengths in 1:51.1 over Bugger Bruiser. Third prize went to Sword Ofthe Spirit.
Ervin Miller Stable Inc, Tangie Massey, Paul Sunderhaus and Larry Agle share ownership on the colt who improved this year’s record to 5-1-1 from 11 tries with the win. The lion’s share of the purse bumped his bankroll to $267,292.
$70,000 OSS Gold Series – 2nd division
Play It Again Sam went to the front and didn’t look back in his OSS assignment for driver James MacDonald and trainer Ian Moore. MacDonald fired the three-year-old son of Shadow Play-Plant A Kiss to the lead and successfully whacked out fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:23.4 before closing off his mile with a :29.2 kicker. He fended off a late surge from Speckled Door, who was a neck back in second. Third prize went to Falcon Justice.
Wayne Whebby of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia shares ownership on the colt with R G McGroup Ltd of Bathurst, New Brunswick. The win improved the pacer’s 2014 record to 4-4-2 from 13 starts and the $35,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings $194,868.
$70,000 OSS Gold Series – 3rd division
Silverhill Shadow gave trainer Dr. Ian Moore his second stakes winner on the day thanks to his gate-to-wire triumph in the final OSS division.
Chris Christoforou pointed the homebred son of Shadow Play-Ruthie Jane to the lead and the three-year-old powered through panels of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.1 before using a :28.1 closing quarter to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Three Of Clubs in 1:53.2. Victor Bayama snuck up the pylons late to grab the show dough.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Silverhill Shadow won for the fourth time this season for owner/breeder Silverhill of Tignish, Prince Edward Island. The six-time winner now boasts a career bankroll that stands at $194,868.
$11,000 Preferred 2 Trot
Buddy Hally was a front-stepping winner in the featured trot for Team McNair, and he did so in a time of 1:58. The four-year-old son of Angus Hall-Credibility brushed to the lead at the quarter pole in :28.1 before cruising through middle splits of :58.2 and 1:27.4. A :30.1 closing quarter is all the gelding and driver Doug McNair needed to post the win by two lengths over Incredible Frank and Jetcrest.
The Gregg McNair trainee posted his second win of the season – and the eighth of his career – for partners Howmac Farms Ltd, Reg Mac Pherson, Gregg McNair and Wayne Mac Rae. The victory pushed his lifetime earnings over $300,000.
$7,000 Preferred Pace 3 for Horses and Geldings
Blue Chip Sunshine was a front-stepping winner in 1:54.3 for driver Trevor Henry, who hustled the gelding through splits of :27.1, :57 and 1:26. A :28.3 closing quarter propelled him to the win by 1-1/4 lengths over Leafs And Wings. Luigi sat a pocket trip and finished third.
The Richard Moreau pupil is owned by Mel Tilley of Moffat and Ecurie Richard Moreau of Puslinch, Ontario. The five-year-old son of American Ideal-Sunshine State is now a two-time winner this year and a six-time winner to date. He’s banked just shy of $68,000 in his career.
$7,000 Preferred Pace 3 for Horses and Geldings
Mach Wheel was parked the route, but that didn’t stop him from posting a 1:54.2 score for driver Jody Jamieson. Classic Gent rolled the field through panels of :27.2, :55.1 and 1:24.2, but he got the wobbles late and was picked off by Mach Wheel in the final strides. Classic Gent finished a neck back in second, with the show award earned by My Friend Diaz.
Sent off at odds of 6-1, the six-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Armbro Reno won for the second time in seven seasonal starts for owner/trainer Shane Arsenault of Freelton, Ontario. The $3,500 payday bumped his lifetime earnings to $237,590.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.
Congratulations to John
Congratulations to John Campbell, Bob MacIntosh and the connections of the horse. Very happy for them all. Campbell still shows (not that he ever had to prove it to me) that even in the tail end of his stellar career he still gets the job done. I have never seen anyone who can go parked first over and still save lots left for the strecth the way Campbell does. The man is truly amazing and a pleasure to watch. I am very happy to see he has notched another feather in his cap.He certainly deserves it not only for his on track ability but for everything he does off the track. He did not have to go to a B track to prove anything. He has already accomplished far more then what any other driver may ever accomplish. Yet he takes the time from his schedule to go to come up here to help a small track out simply by making an appearance. A class act for sure, as is Mr. MacIntosh from everything I have heard about him.
Two very deserving winners.
Campbell did everything he
Campbell did everything he had to too win. Most of all absolutely no panic.Macintosh was lucky he had John in the bike on this day.No other driver would have won with this colt. That's why he is and always will be by far the best driver the sport has or will ever see. Congrats to the connections.
Not a bad handle for a
Not a bad handle for a Monday.I wonder what the handle would be if Western Fair ran their Molson Pace on a Mon/Tue or Wednesday(500 thou)instead of their Friday.