by Kelly Spencer, Mgr. Marketing & Communications, Grand River Raceway

Elora, ON — Elimination races for Grand River Raceway’s 25th annual Industry Day event (Monday, Aug. 3) were contested during five elimination rounds on Monday evening (July 27).

Three elimination divisions of the Battle of the Belles (for Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing fillies) were carded as races one, three and six. The top three finishers from each division advance to the C$141,246 final of the seventh annual Battle of the Belles on Aug. 3.

Tempus Seelster won the first Battle of the Belles elimination in 1:56.1.

Tempus Seelster took home the first win of the elimination card and secured herself a spot in the final of the Battle of the Belles. The 1:56.1 score in the first division marked the Big Jim filly’s maiden win. Trainer/driver Travis Henry piloted the filly for owners Benbar Stables, Glen Wark and Craig Wood. Henry and Tempus Seelster will leave from the trailing position in the final.

Doug McNair and Sports Expert followed by a half-length to finish second for trainer Blake MacIntosh. Heavenly Bet was third, securing a spot in the final for trainer Des Tackoor.

The second Belles elimination was stolen by Jody Jamieson and Free Show. The David Menary trainee challenged Bold Amoretto for the lead after Noone To Depend On and Radar Trap both broke stride around the first turn. Jamieson cut the entire mile for a length victory in 1:55.4 over Paul Mackenzie and Bold Amoretto.

Blake Macintosh will have two hopefuls in the Belles final after McNair and Mattjestic Tempo left early and secured a four length victory in the third and final Belles elimination. McNair and Mattjestic Tempo stopped the clock at 1:55.2 with James MacDonald and Golden Idol finishing second. Im In Luv and Jody Jamieson were third.

Golden Idol will leave from the coveted rail position in the final for trainer Tony O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan and MacDonald teamed up last year with Golden Idol’s full sister, Win The Gold, and captured the Battle of the Belles final.

Two elimination divisions of the Battle of Waterloo (for Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing colts) were carded as races two and seven. The top four finishers from each division, plus one of the two fifth-place finishers (as determined by draw), advance to the C$207,397 final of the 18th annual Battle of Waterloo on Aug. 3.

Iron Horse photos

Semi Automatic set a Canadian season’s record with a win in 1:53.4.

O’Sullivan and MacDonald were back in action for the first of two Battle of Waterloo eliminations which saw a Canadian season’s record set by Semi Automatic. The Badlands Hanover colt left from the two hole and put in some work to reach the top after the rail horse, Think On It, broke stride off the gate. MacDonald took two seconds off the current Canadian season’s record when he stopped the clock at 1:53.4. Semi Automatic will trail the field (post nine) in the Battle of Waterloo final.

Think On It managed to come back and finish fifth for trainer/co-owner Robert McIntosh. The good fortune continued when the homebred son of Ponder drew the coveted rail position for the final. Imsporty and Carolina Hurricane were second and third, respectively.

Doug McNair and Magnum J captured the second and final elimination for the Battle of Waterloo. McNair steered the Gregg McNair conditioned colt around the seven horse, Chalk Player, at the first quarter to take the lead. The pair stayed on top for the remainder of the mile and crossed the finish line two lengths ahead of Chalk Player and Bob McClure.

The seventh annual Battle of the Belles and 18th annual Battle of Waterloo will be contested during Industry Day’s 25th anniversary card at Grand River Raceway on Monday (Aug. 3). Post time for race one is 1:30 p.m.

For complete event details, visit www.IndustryDayCelebration.com.

Post position draws for both stakes races were conducted on July 27. The following are the fields for the finals on Industry Day:

C$207,397 Battle of Waterloo
Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Think On It-John Campbell-Robert McIntosh
2. Stonebridge Beach-Stephane Pouliot-Stephane Larocque
3. A Bettors Risk-Jonathan Drury-Casie Coleman
4. Carolina Hurricane-Sylvain Filion-Ronald Adams
5. Continual Hanover-Michael Saftic-John Darling
6. Imsporty-Jody Jamieson-Carl Jamieson
7. Magnum J-Doug McNair-Gregg McNair
8. Chalk Player-Bob McClure-Jeffrey Gillis
9. Semi Automatic-James MacDonald-Tony O’Sullivan

C$141,246 Battle of the Belles
Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Golden Idol-James MacDonald-Tony O’Sullivan
2. Mattjestic Tempo-Doug McNair-Blake MacIntosh
3. Im In Luv-Jody Jamieson-Carl Jamieson
4. Free Show-Jody Jamieson-David Menary
5. Betty Hill-Jonathan Drury-Carmen Auciello
6. Sports Expert-Doug McNair-Blake MacIntosh
7. Heavenly Bet-Jody Jamieson-Des Tackoor
8. Bold Amoretto-Paul Mackenzie-Ian Moore
9. Tempus Seelster-Travis Henry-Travis Henry