Trotting mare Power And Grace kept the boys at bay as she cruised to victory in Friday night's featured $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap at Grand River Raceway.
A short field of just four trotters lined up for the feature with a pair of scratches and Power And Grace was the 2-5 favourite after missing by just a neck last week and getting the inside post this time out. She delivered on her pari-mutuel promise, leading through fractions of :29.2, :59 and 1:28 en route to the easy win in 1:57.2, holding one-length clear of the pocket pursuer Andy Over at the wire. Arcanum and last week's winner Aussie Lover completed the quartet.
The eight-year-old Holiday Road mare is campaigned by the father-son, trainer-driver team of Ron and Brett MacDonald -- the latter also shares ownership with Hartel Maintenance Inc., Lormer McClure and Reg Higgs.
Power And Grace has put together a seasonal summary of 8-6-5 from 28 starts and now boasts 53 victories lifetime and total earnings of $467,734.
She paid $2.80 to win.
Friday's card also included a pair of $8,600 fifth leg divisions of the Prospect Series for three-year-old filly pacers, which were won by 27-1 upset winner Chocolateforlunch ($56) and odds-on favourite Gimmie A Corona ($4.20).
Brett MacDonald sent Chocolateforlunch three-wide down the backstretch to score a 2-3/4-length victory in a career-best 1:56.3 over fellow late-closing longshot Handbagofcheezies for trainer Jason Woodward and owner Steve Deyell. The Dali-Simply Marvelous filly picked up her first win in the series following three runner-up finishes. Yoda Queen got up for third.
Laverne Turnbull's Gimmie A Corona was the early trailer and closed off cover to nose out Badditude and Two Across Marion in a three-way photo finish and earn her third Prospect win in 1:56.4. The popular Control The Moment-Western Jewel filly was driven by Anthony Haughan while Meg Crone handles the training duties.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.