Three divisions of the Prospect Series for three-year-old pacing fillies, each worth an $8,000 bounty, went to the gate on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Grand River Raceway as the fifth and final leg of the series before the $15,000 final slated for Sept. 27 at the Elora, Ont. oval. Cheese Party delivered in her fourth straight win as the leading lady with a swift 1:53.4 score.
Cheese Party and Austin Sorrie took back off the gate and motioned into fifth through the opening quarter in :27 before moving to the outside. A shuffle of the field saw Fancy Lettering (Louis-Philippe Roy) move from fourth to first, followed by Cheese Party on the outside in second at the :55.3 half. Cheese Party was still overland at the three-quarters in 1:24, but she progressed to poke ahead by a half length as the new leader. Sorrie and the Kyle Bossence student continued onward and paced home in :29.4 to win by a length in 1:53.4 over Fancy Lettering. Tamara Hanover (Todd Ratchford) came from last to finish third.
The three-year-old daughter of Betterthanchedder and the Art Major mare Tea Party Princess is owned by trainer Bossence. She recorded her fifth win in 17 starts this year and sixth career win from 27 starts. She paid $3.90 to win as the favourite.
Definingthe Moment won the second division from post four with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike, winning every panel in :28, :57.4 and 1:26.4. The Roger Mayotte student opened up in the stretch to score a 3-1/4-length victory in 1:55. Ontop Rainstorm (Michael Whelan) nabbed second over Distant Lover (Austin Sorrie).
Trainer Roger Mayotte co-owns the sophomore Control The Moment-Palm Beach Hanover filly with Ben Mudry, Louis Liebenau and Larry Curtis. Definingthe Moment recorded her third win of the season in 12 starts and third career tally from 21 starts. As the bettors' choice, the filly returned $3.30 to win.
Bruce Richardson and Quiet Assurances completed the series action for the evening with a gate-to-wire trip of their own from post six. The pair timed each fraction in :27, :57 and 1:26.3 before going on to win by a length in a career best 1:55.4. Saulsbrook Annie (Roy) finished second with Stilton Gold (Jason Ryan) third.
Breeders Howard Taylor and Falcon Racing LLC co-own the Control The Moment-Unspoken Promise filly, who recorded her third win of the year in 19 starts and sixth career win in 31 starts. Upsetting the field with an 8-1 triumph, Quiet Assurances paid $17.30 to her backers.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)