Seven divisions of Prospect Series paces went to the gate on Wednesday (Sept. 6) at Grand River Raceway and undefeated Distant Lover won her $8,800 split in the swiftest time of the card in 1:55.4.
Distant Lover rocketed from post seven with Jason Ryan in the bike. The Nick Gallucci trainee achieved the early lead from the outside at the opening panel in :28.4 before finding a spot along the pylons. She handed out two more panels in :58.4 and 1:27.1 before stomping off to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Quiet Assurances (Bruce Richardson) finished second with Bet Im Shady (Tyler Borth) third.
Millar Farms owns Distant Lover, who recorded her third win in three starts in a career best time. The two-year-old daughter of Betterthancheddar and the Mach Three mare Mindsweeper has $13,100 banked. She paid $3.40 to win.
Halva Hanover (Bettors Delight-Holla Hanover) and Anthony Haughan opened up the card action with a gate-to-wire win in 1:58.4 by 2-3/4 lengths to take the winner's share of the $8,700 purse for trainer Anthony Beaton and owners Beaton, David Mercer, Mac Nichol and Robert Jones for her second career tally. She paid $4.40 to win.
Michael Horner steered his trainee Better Than Never (Betterthancheddar-Joywriter) to sprint in the stretch and win an $8,700 division by a head in 1:59.1 for owners Mark Horner and R A W Equine Inc. He paid $14.90 to win.
Winning every panel in the $8,800 split, Hope N Pray (McWicked-Mcvita Bella) held on at the wire to prevail by a half-length in 1:58.3 with Tyler Moore driving for trainer Ian Moore and owner Wayne Eric Whebby. He paid $2.90 to win.
Gregg McNair met two of his students in the winner's circle for two $8,700 Prospect Series splits. Wheres My Phone ($9.50) got the ball rolling for McNair with Brett MacDonald holding the lines as they won by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58.1 McNair co-owns the Big Jim-Lucky Louisa daughter with Ian Fleming. Austin Sorrie and Meet Me In Mekonos ($6.70) gave McNair his second picture of the day, winning by three lengths in 1:58.4. Ross Family Farms Ltd. owns the son of Bettors Delight-Albany Hanover.
Jody Jamieson and Carl Jamieson trainee Scrappy (Stag Party-Warrawee Star) posted a gate-to-wire achievement in 1:57.4, winning by a length in the final $8,700 division for owners Carl Jamieson, the Estate of Brian Paquet and George Harrison. She paid $7.10 to win.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.