There’s something about the air at Grand River Raceway in Elora that brings out the best in Machapelo, who won that track’s marquee event – the $300,000 Battle of Waterloo – earlier this summer before returning and capturing the $170,000 OSS Gold Series Final
on Monday evening.
Scott Zeron mapped out the winning trip for Machapelo, who found the finish line just in the nick of time en route to holding off the race favourite, Warrawee Needy.
Zeron and Machapelo were parked by Addwater to the quarter-pole in :27.4 before working their way to the position of command. The two-year-old son of Mach Three-Capelo Rose front-stepped his way through middle panels of :57.1 and 1:25.2 before feeling heavy pressure from Warrawee Needy, who was parked two and three-wide throughout the mile. A :29-second final frame was just enough for Machapelo to fend off Warrawee Needy by a head in a time of 1:54.2. Third prize went to I Found My Beach.
Mike Keeling trains the homebred for the Enviro Stables Ltd of Miami, Florida. The victory improved the colt’s record to 3-4-1 in 11 starts while pushing his lifetime earnings to $408,843.
(Photo provided by Iron Horse Photo)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.