In a thrilling stretch duel between joint favourites, Reel ($5.60) just outlasted a late lunge from pocket rival Redonkulous to capture Wednesday evening’s (September 20) featured $7,500 Preferred 3 pacing event at Grand River Raceway.
After proving a pillar-to-post winner in a conditioned event last week, the six-year-old Shadow Play gelding wasted no time getting involved this week, driving on to clear Redonkulous (Travis Cullen) midway up the far side after Waltzking Hanover (Ondrej Gois) closed the pocket from the second row. Reel reeled off early fractions of :28.1 and :57 before using a :28.3 third sectional to evade the first-over Goldstar Badlands, who worked to within a neck of second spot before regressing into the far turn.
Reel faced his toughest test in the final three-sixteenths of the mile when Redonkulous angled out of the pocket to give chase. Called upon by Bruce Richardson for every last ounce of energy he could muster, Reel narrowly held his ground over Redonkulous at the winning post, prevailing by a scant nose in 1:53.4 for his eighteenth career win. Passport To Art (Anthony Haughan) shook free from mid-division traffic to take third over Waltzking Hanover.
Trainer Tim Myers co-owns Reel, a seven-time winner in 27 races this year, with Michael Hale.
Patrick Shepherd captured top training honours with a hat trick on the 10-race card, teaming up with driver Bob McClure on wins with E L Dartsmyboy ($2.90, 1:56), Fiftyshadesofbay ($4.30, 1:56.4), and Matts Tuition ($4.00, 1:57.4).
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.