The stage is set for the July 30 elimination rounds for three big-money stake races which will be contested at Grand River Raceway’s marquee event, Industry Day, on Monday, August 6.
This Monday night, hopefuls will compete for a berth in the finals of the15th annual $300,000 Battle of Waterloo; its companion race, the fourth annual $150,000 Battle of the Belles; and an Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) $130,000 Gold Final for freshman trotting colts.
The top nine finishers for each of these elimination events will advance to their respective finals on Industry Day, the track’s annual horse racing celebration, on the Civic Holiday (Monday, August 6) at 1:30 p.m.
Mach Pride is the wealthiest of the 21 two-year-old Ontario sired pacing colts in the Battle Of Waterloo elims. With $126,000 banked and four wins from six starts, the Lou Eftimiadis pupil will command certain respect leaving from post three with Anthony MacDonald in race nine. Gerald Mijal owns the Mach Three son who took a mark of 1:52.3 in his latest OSS Gold Final win at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 22. He currently leads the OSS Gold Final standings with 162 points.
Dave Menary won the 2010 edition of the Battle Of Waterloo with Prodigal Seelster, the speediest of 14 champs in 1:53.2. This year, Menary has two starters. In his most recent exploits, Tarpon Hanover became the fastest two-year-old in North America in 2012 during an OSS Gold Final on July 6 in 1:51.4 at Mohawk Racetrack. He’s undefeated in two starts and has banked $85,000. Menary and partners Brad Gray, Bruce Norris and Denis Breton paid $82,000 for the colt as a yearling at the Harrisburg Sale. Tarpon Hanover starts from post seven in the last of three Battle Of Waterloo elimination divisions (race nine).
Windsong Jack is Menary’s second starter. He was a 13-length winner in an OSS Grassroots race in 1:56.1 over Flamboro Downs in his first career outing. He’s since finished second in an OSS Gold Elimination and the final. He leaves from post four in race six.
Scott Zeron, last year’s Battle Of Waterloo winning driver, pilots both of Menary’s starters.
Menary also has three freshman fillies lined up for the Battle Of The Belles: Maiden lass Macharoundtheclock in race eight, and Maraculous in race 10 who will face-off from post six against stablemate Adventurepan (post three). Adventurepan is a homebred Mach Three miss owned by Peter Pan Stables. She’s earned $61,200 in four starts and took her first win in an OSS Gold Elimination at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 15 in 1:55.2.
Post positions for the finals will be drawn as follows:
• Post Position Draw for the OSS Gold Final: Drawn live on the Tarmac Show after race six on July 30. Top three finishers from each of the three elimination divisions advance to the final.
• Post Position Draw for the Battle Of Waterloo: Drawn live on the Tarmac Show after race 10 on July 30. Top three finishers from each of the three elimination divisions advance to the final.
• Post Position Draw for the Battle Of The Belles: Drawn live on the Tarmac Show after race 11 on July 30. Top four finishers from each of the two elimination divisions, plus one of the fifth-place finishers — as drawn by lot — advance to the final.
Post time for race one on Monday, July 30 is 7:05 p.m.
For complete Industry Day details, click here.
(Grand River Raceway)
To view entries for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Entries – Grand River Raceway.