by Kelly Spencer, manager of marketing and communications, Grand River Raceway

Elora, ON — Elimination races for Grand River Raceway’s 23rd annual Industry Day event were contested Monday (July 29).

A total of seven elimination dashes were featured for two stakes events — the C$144,500 Battle of Waterloo (Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing colts) and the C$75,400 Battle of the Belles (Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing fillies).

Both stakes finals will be featured during the 11-race afternoon card valued at more than C$300,000 on Monday (Aug. 5).

It was a big night for local trainer Gregg McNair, who secured three hopefuls in the Battle of the Belles and two colts in the Battle of Waterloo.

Battle of the Belles

Father-son, trainer-driver duo Gregg McNair and Doug McNair dominated Battle of the Belles action with two winners and a runner-up from three divisions. The Guelph, Ontario, residents took the first division in 1:57.3 with race favorite Lady Shadow.

Lady Shadow was a 1:57.3 winner in her Battle of the Belles elimination.

Gregg McNair conditions the Shadow Play-Lady Camella filly for Lindsey and Connie Rankin. A winner of three from four career starts, she has banked $54,275. Arrivista Hanover (Chris Christoforou) and Justabit Mean (Sylvain Flion) rounded out the top three.

The McNairs were back in the winner’s circle in the next division with Momara. Doug McNair took the filly to the top from post eight to clock her third consecutive win. Gregg McNair co-owns the Lis Mara-Mosaic filly with Leonard Gamble, Don MacDonald and David Kryway. Her three-quarter length victory came in 1:57.2. She was followed by Yoselin Seelster (Rick Zeron) and Slick Rumor (Brad Forward).

The quickest clocking of the eliminations went to Catalea Seelster in the final round. The Stonebridge Regal-C’mon Mama Cass miss recorded her first career win for owner James Boucher and trainer Ron Adams. Brad Forward piloted the filly to a new Canadian season record (for 2-year-old fillies on a half-mile track) of 1:56.4. Can Art (Doug McNair) and Regil Meg (Jody Jamieson) rounded out the top three.

Battle of Waterloo

The McNairs — who won the 2008 edition of the race with Trail Boss — have two starters in the Battle of Waterloo courtesy of division winner Three Of Clubs and runner-up OK Gladiator.

Three Of Clubs recorded his second career score during race 10 for Gregg McNair and co-owners Tony Lawrence and Shady Hill Racing Stable. The Mach Three-CC Kloe son won by a length in 1:55.1. Sword Of The Spirit and Shadowbriand filled out the top three.

Iron Horse Photos

Arthur Blue Chip and Jody Jamieson were 1:55.1 winners.

McNair’s OK Gladiator finished second to Arthur Blue Chip in race six. Owned by Shadow One Stable, Arthur Blue Chip was driven by Jody Jamieson to a two length score in 1:55.1. The priciest yearling in the field ($135,000), the Shadow Play-Advantest colt has banked $112,063 for the Shadow One Stable. He’s trained by Dr. Ian Moore who won the 2009 edition of the Battle of Waterloo with Wellthereyougo.

Trainer Wayne McGean paid C$12,500 to supplement Steady Warrior to the Battle of Waterloo. He drew the rail in the third division and took the lead at the first quarter with driver Sylvain Filion to record his maiden win in 1:56.2. McGean and co-owner Michael Gouthro paid just C$5,000 for the Royal Mattjesty-Latin Liftoff colt as a yearling. He’s now banked $65,048.

Trainer Jack Darling has two prospects as he looks to secure his first Battle of Waterloo victory. Allstar Seelster was a runner-up to Steady Warrior in elimination division three, and Cluster Hanover won the first division in 1:56. Darling owns the Badlands Hanover-Clouding Over colt. The 3-1 shot scored his first lifetime win by a length with Jody Jamieson in 1:56, followed by P L Hellcat and Pop Pop Joe.

The fifth annual Battle of the Belles and 16th annual Battle of Waterloo will go postward as races nine and 11, respectively, during Industry Day at Grand River Raceway on Monday (Aug. 5). 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 29. The following are the fields for the finals on Industry Day:

The C$144,500 Battle of Waterloo
Post-Horse-Trainer-Driver
1. Three Of Clubs-Gregg McNair-Doug McNair
2. Steady Warrior-Wayne McGean-Sylvain Flion
3. Pop Pop Joe-Blake MacIntosh-Brad Forward
4. Allstar Seelster-Jack Darling-Jody Jamieson
5. Ok Gladiator-Gregg McNair-Doug McNair
6. Cluster Hanover-Jack Darling-Jody Jamieson
7. Arthur Blue Chip-Dr. Ian Moore-Jody Jamieson
8. Sword Of The Spirit-Martin Lachance-Mario Baillargeon
9. P L Hellcat-Dan Clements-Chris Christoforou

The C$75,400 Battle of the Belles
Post-Horse-Trainer-Driver
1. Slick Rumor-Blake MacIntosh-Brad Forward
2. Arrivista Hanover-Rene Laarman-Chris Christoforou
3. Catalea Seelster-Ron Adams-Brad Forward
4. Lady Shadow-Gregg McNair-Doug McNair
5. Can Art-Gregg McNair-Doug McNair
6. Yoselin Seelster-Ben Wallace-Rick Zeron
7. Regil Meg-Reg Westgarth-Jody Jamieson
8. Momara-Gregg McNair-Doug McNair
9. Justabit Mean-Murray Brethour-Sylvain Filion