Buffeted by extreme weather, Grand River Raceway was forced to cancel its program of racing after just two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series divisions had gone to the post on Friday.
One freshman pacing filly division and one freshman trotting filly division were completed before the severe thunderstorms arrived. The remaining divisions, two for the trotting fillies and one for the pacing lasses, will be contested as non-betting events before the Elora oval’s Sunday evening program. The non-wagering events will begin at 5 p.m., with the regularly scheduled card getting under way at 6 p.m.
Racing over a fast track in the second race of the evening, the $105,000 division of two-year-old pacing fillies did their part to give fans their money’s worth in spite of the abbreviated program.
Starting from post five, Porsche Seelster (James MacDonald) sprinted away from the starting gate to a :27.1 opening quarter, but was quickly under siege from favourite Alibi Seelster (Paul MacDonell), who took over before the :56.2 half.
Alibi Seelster carried on to a 1:25.1 three-quarters and was on top by a length turning for home, but the rest of the field was just shifting into gear. In spite of travelling up the outside through the bulk of the race, Performing Art was able to put a nose in front of Alibi Seelster, Porsche Seelster and Medoland Lindeylou (Trevor Henry) at the wire. All four fillies were clocked in 1:56.1.
Otis Hall conditions Performing Art for Sauble Hill Farms of Tara, Ont. and his Nasussito Racing Inc. of Ayr, Ont. Cambridge, Ont. resident Billy Davis Jr. guided the Shadow Play-Artacam daughter to her first lifetime victory, assuring her of a berth in next weekend’s Super Final.
The $70,000 trotting filly division saw Toughs Legacy march to a four length win in 2:01 in spite of a racing surface that had been downgraded to sloppy and three seconds slower than normal. The Kadabra-One Tough Girl daughter and Guelph, Ont. resident Paul MacDonell bested Flexible Woman (James MacDonald) and Tosca (Per Henriksen).
Richard 'Nifty' Norman conditions Toughs Legacy for Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Ont., Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, Florida and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, Florida. The filly’s first lifetime win also boosted her from 16th in the point standings into the top 10. The top 10 point earners advance to the $200,000 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 28.
The remaining contestants for the rich freshman filly Super Finals will be decided following Sunday’s trio of rescheduled Gold Series divisions.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(With files from OSS)