Crosscut overcame a first-over trip to capture Monday’s $11,500 Preferred 2&3 Handicap for horse and gelding pacers at Grand River Raceway, and that was music to the ears of the pundits that sent him off as the 2-1 favourite.
With J.R. Plante at the lines, Crosscut got away sixth while Hes Got Swagger marched to the top and served up first-half fractions of :28.1 and :59. Crosscut started his first-over bid on the way to the mid-way point, and he was just a length behind Hes Got Swagger at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4.
Crosscut put intense pressure on Hes Got Swagger all the way around the final turn, and Hes Got Swagger eventually succumbed to the pressure when a late miscue took him out of the equation. Crosscut used a :28.4 final frame to win by a length over Freddy Bear in 1:55.4. Shades Of Bay was third.
The five-year-old son of Mcardle-Miss Scarlett, who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Anthony Beaton, won for the second time this year from six attempts. The eight-time winner, who is owned by S S G Stables of North Boston, NY, has banked $82,135 to date.
Earlier on the card a ‘No Contest’ was declared by the AGCO Judges as a result of a mishap that took place right at the start of Race 3. Lucky Town (J.R. Plante) made a break behind the gate and as a result he hooked wheels with Caseous (Austin Sorrie). Both horses stayed on their feet, but Plante got tipped out of his race bike right in front of the grandstand.
He managed to hold the lines of his horse and they wound up heading into the infield near the finish line. For the safety of everyone, the AGCO Judges alerted all involved that the race would be a ‘No Contest’.
Drivers and horses came away from the incident unscathed.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.