The name of the game was go to the front and don’t get caught in Monday evening’s Preferred events at Grand River Raceway.
Hetties Honey went the distance in the first of two $7,500 Preferred 3 tilts for trotters. Colin Kelly sliced out splits of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:30 with the mare before she used a :29.3 closing panel to win by 1-1/2 lengths over race favourite Lexus Rocky in 1:59.3. Federal Army was third.
Sent off at odds of 17-1, the seven-year-old daughter of Duke Of York-Hetties Dream posted the win for trainer Chad Milner and owner Harness Horsepower Inc of Campbellville, Ont. The 12-time winner has banked $106,722 to date.
Crown Classic led at every call in the other $7,500 Preferred 3 event for trotters. Travis Henry whacked out fractions of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:28.3 before hammering home in :28.4 to win by a length over Absolut Seelster in 1:57.2. Taking home the show dough was Winkys Pride.
Per Henriksen trains the five-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass-Crown Laurel for Darryl Drain and Stig Westrum. The seven-time winner is 3-for-17 this year. She’s banked over $30,000 this year and boasts a career bankroll of $97,376.
Adore Him shot to the top in the $7,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers, and he cruised to an easy win for driver Paul MacKenzie. The gelding served up fractions of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:24.4 before finishing off the competition with a :29-second closing quarter. He won by 2-1/4 lengths over Bugatti. Who Doesnt rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Curt Blake of Clinton, Ont. owns and trains the five-year-old son of Shadow Play-Respectednbeloved. The victory was his fourth of the season and the 19th of his career. He’s banked more than $25,000 this year and $108,424 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.