Three-year-old pacer St Lads Criminal stole the spotlight at Grand River Raceway on Friday night (Aug. 4), streaking to his seventh straight victory for trainer Lori Lepage.
St Lads Criminal and driver Anthony Haughan teamed up for their latest win in a $7,200 race for non-winners of $16,000 lifetime (with allowances). After first half fractions of :28 and :56, Haughan sent the 1-5 favourite first-over from fifth and rolled three-wide as P L Quicksand was flushed out of third on the way to three-quarters in 1:24.4 as they progressed. St Lads Criminal battled past P L Quicksand into the stretch and held off the oncoming Tignanello to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.1. He paid $2.60 to win.
Owned by Rebecca Williamson, the Control The Moment-Warrawee Cammy gelding has earned $24,662 and is now seven-for-nine in his debut campaign, with all of his wins taken over the Elora half-mile track.
In other action, Grand River Raceway hosted the third leg of the Prospect Series for three-year-old trotting colts with a pair of divisions going to Warrawee Yuri and Fox Valley Ontario.
Warrawee Yuri maintained his perfect series record as a wire-to-wire winner, parking his rivals early and going on to score in 2:01.1 in his $8,700 division for trainer/driver Mario Baillargeon, topping Hamilton De Vie and 3-5 favourite Impressive Dude. He paid $7.10 to win as the 5-2 second choice. Unraced as a two-year-old, the Kadabra-Karoon colt has won four of his 10 starts this year, including earlier Prospect divisions at Hiawatha Horse Park and Hanover Raceway, for Thestable Warrawee Yuri.
Dropping down from the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots level after top three finishes there, Fox Valley Ontario found success in the Prospect Series for trainer Randy Fulmer and co-owner Phil Katcher. The Muscle Mass-Dont Think Twice colt took the lead in his $8,600 division after the half and opened up two lengths when challenged in the final turn by Sunglassesatnight to win in 1:58.4 with Garrett Rooney in the bike. He paid $2.40 to win as the bettors' choice, with Sunglassesatnight second and Electro Long Legs rounding out the top three. Winless in eight races as a rookie, Fox Valley Ontario has won three of his 11 starts this year.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Photo of St Lads Criminal winning on July 14)