A pair of Prospect Series winners kicked off a perfect night at the races for trainer Jean-Francois Maguire at Grand River Raceway on Friday, Aug. 8.
After surpassing the 1,000-win milestone earlier this week, driver Samuel Fillion continued his winning ways and teamed up with Maguire to sweep the 3A leg of the Prospect Series for Ontario-sired two-year-old male trotters with favourites Silver Detector ($4.40) and Super Green ($2.90).
Silver Detector (Alarm Detector-Silver) led wire-to-wire to win the first $8,000 division in 1:58.4, breaking his maiden in his second start for owner/breeder Silver Stables of Venise-En-Quebec, Que. Lifting Legend (Brett MacDonald) followed one length behind off a pocket trip while Zillennial (J Harris) rounded out the top three.
Super Green (Green Manalishi S-Time After Time) made a quarter-pole move from third to take command and won his division by 3-1/4 lengths in a two-minute mile. A three-time starter, the gelding has now won back-to-back races for Maguire, who co-owns with Jean Allaire of Montreal, Que., and G T Stables of St-Placide, Que. Acefortyfour Magic (George Ketros) shot through for second-place from behind a final-turn breaker and Arbela Hanover (Brett MacDonald) came on for third.
Grand River Raceway made a special presentation to Fillion in the winner's circle after Silver Detector's win, congratulating the reinsman for reaching the 1,000 career win mark on Tuesday at Georgian Downs.
In addition to the Prospect wins, Maguire also sent out four-year-old trotter Masterwork ($21.90), a dominant 1:55.4 winner in an $8,000 conditioned optional claiming trot to complete his training triple and bring his career win total to 600. Masterwork was also reined by Fillion, who had a driving grand slam during the 10-race card.
In other action, three-year-old trotting filly Show Me The Green ($2.70) ran her win streak up to six, closing in :28.4 for a 1:56.4 victory by a half-length over Wells Fargo (J Harris) and Trophy Wife (Austin Sorrie) in a $7,200 conditioned trot ahead of her return to Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action for the first time this year next Wednesday at the Elora, Ont. oval. Dale Spence drove the Green Manalishi S-One Girl Show IT filly, who appears to have left her early career breaking issues behind her, going six-for-six as a sophomore for trainer Kyle Ruhl and owner Triple S Equine of Newton, Ont.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; photos of Prospect Series winner Silver Detector on Aug. 8)