Battle finalists determined at Grand River Raceway
July 26, 2016,by Kelly Spencer, for Grand Ricer Raceway
Elora, ON — Elimination races for Grand River Raceway’s 26th annual Industry Day event on Monday (Aug. 1) were contested on Monday evening (July 25).
Three elimination divisions of the Battle of the Belles (for Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing fillies) were carded as races one, two and six. The top three finishers from each division advance to the C$92,800 final of the eighth annual Battle of the Belles on Aug. 1.
Ain’t Three OK kicked off the first elimination division in a new Canadian season’s record of 1:55.1.
Ain’t Three OK kicked off the first elimination division in a new Canadian season’s record of 1:55.1. Trevor Henry guided the Mach Three-Ain’t Given Up miss to her first career win, finishing a length over Shanghai Sugar (Travis Henry) and Stonebridge Sundae (Mike Saftic).
Bid Writer didn’t disappoint her heavy backers in the second division, leading wire-to-wire to score a three length score in 1:56.3 with James MacDonald. Jeff Gillis trains and co-owns the Sportswriter-Bust Out The Bid lass with Mac Nichol and Gerald Stay. The trio paid $52,000 for Bid Writer as a yearling. Village Jamie (Eddie Green) and The Joy Luck Club (Mike Horner) rounded out the top three.
The final division went to Love’s Angel with Doug McNair. The Big Jim-Moss Blue Chip daughter cut the mile and hung on to win by a neck over Warrawee Speedy (Eddie Green) in 1:58.1. Miss Mittzie Bee (Chris Christoforou) rounded out the top three. Monday night’s elimination division win was a career first for Love’s Angel. She’s trained and co-owned by Gregg McNair with partners Jim Newton and Kenneth Newton.
Two elimination divisions of the Battle of Waterloo (for Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing colts) were carded as races four and eight. The top four finishers from each division, plus one of the two fifth-place finishers (as determined by draw) advance to the C$139,500 final of the 19th annual Battle of Waterloo on Aug. 1.
Calvin K set a new Canadian season’s record with his commanding one length win from post eight in the first division. Jody Jamieson piloted the Classic Card Shark-Road To Pandalay colt to a clocking of 1:55.3. The duo previously set a North American season’s record of 1:52.3 in the colt’s first outing on July 4 at Mohawk Racetrack. Owned by breeder Winbak Farm, Calvin K is conditioned by Tony O’Sullivan, who celebrated his 1,000th training win on July 23. Aston Hill Dave (Doug McNair), Silverinyourpocket (Sylvain Filion) and Bet On Brett (Mike Saftic) rounded out the top four in the first division.
Calvin K’s record was replaced in the next division, when Sports Column stormed home in 1:54.2. Chris Christoforou piloted the Sportswriter-Lady Leslie son, now a winner of $69,523 for trainer Blake MacIntosh and co-owners Hutt Racing Stable and Daniel Plouffe. Happy Trio (Sylvain Filion) finished 1-1/2 lengths in second, followed by Classic Pro (Jody Jamieson) and Mc Mach (Trevor Henry).
The eighth annual Battle of the Belles and 19th annual Battle of Waterloo will be contested during Industry Day’s 26th card at Grand River Raceway on Monday (Aug. 1). 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 25. The following are the fields for the finals on Industry Day:
C$139,500 Battle of Waterloo
1 – Sports Column
2 – Calvin K
3 – Happy Trio
4 – Silverinyourpocket
5 – Mc Mach
6 – Classic Pro
7 – Bet On Brett
8 – Dreamfair B J
9 – Aston Hill Dave
C$92,800 Battle of the Belles
1 – Stonebridge Sundae
2 – Bid Writer
3 – Village Jamie
4 – Ain’t Three Okay
5 – The Joy Luck Club
6 – Love’s Angel
7 – Miss Mittzie Bee
8 – Warrawee Speedy
9 – Shanghai Sugar