Wednesday night's card at Grand River Raceway featured three Preferred 3 pacing events -- two for the horses & geldings, and one for the fillies & mares.
Despite four straight races finishing second -- including two in this class -- Lovedancinwithyou was dismissed as a 17-1 outsider in Wednesday night's first $7,500 Preferred 3 Pace. Scott Young didn't drive the horse like the fourth longest shot in the field of nine, he confidently and patiently guided Lovedancinwithyou first up before the half on favoured Lyons Again (Bob McClure) and got up in the final strides for the 1:56.4 score. Grin For Money (Alfie Carroll) nosed out the pacesetting Lyons Again for runner-up honours.
Owned by trainer Chantal Mitchell of Hamilton, Ont., six-year-old Lovedancinwithyou (Skydancer Hanover - Loves Art) notched his 19th career win and inched closer to the $100,000 mark in purses.
McClure came right back in the next race, the $7,500 Preferred 3 for Fillies & Mares, and employed a front-end strategy again with Hex. Although being stung early parked three-deep into the first turn, Hex eventually landed on the lead just past the :28 opening panel. From there, Hex and McClure carved out all the fractions with a :58 half and pressured 1:27.2 third panel. Favoured Whiskys Paradise (Nick Steward) was applying first over pressure but couldn't front the pacesetter as Hex hit the wire two lengths to the good in 1:56. Bestulldotanite (Paul MacKenzie) completed the triactor.
Dean Nixon trains Hex (Shark Gesture - Witchcraft) for Earl Hill, Jr. of Oshweken, Ont. The four-year-old mare boasts six of her 10 lifetime starts from this year's four-year-old campaign.
The second $7,500 Preferred 3 was reduced to a field of six after two horses were scratched but that didn't make the event any less interesting. Veroi Bayama (McClure) was intent on the lead, repelling a strong early bid from the favourite, a pocket-pulling Sing For Me George (Billy Davis Jr.). through a brisk opener.
Veroi Bayama maintained the lead through a :56.3 half and 1:26.1 third station. Lets Wait And See (Jason Ryan) were stalking the leader since the half, advancing steadily with Rise Up Now (Carroll) on his helmet. At the head of the lane, Carroll tipped his charge into the three path and took aim at the frontrunners. Lets Wait And See powered past Veroi Bayama but couldn't hold off Rise Up Now, who lived up to his name with a 1:55 win.
Richard Moreau trains and Brad Grant holds the papers on four-year-old Rise Up Now (Somebeachsomewhere - Northwestern), a winner for the third time this year. His earnings now exceed $230,000.
For the full charted results from Wednesday night's card, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.