McNairs Sweep Battle Of Waterloo Elims

Some of Ontario’s most gifted freshman pacers trekked to Grand River Raceway on Monday evening to compete in the eliminations for this year’s Battle Of Waterloo and the Battle Of The Belles.

A set of eliminations went postward for this year's Battle Of Waterloo, while it took three elimination fields to make up the field for this year's Battle Of The Belles Final.  Here's a recap of what took place on Monday's card:

Battle Of Waterloo Eliminations

Sounds Good went to the front and didn’t look back en route to clobbering the foes he faced in the first $15,000 elimination.

Doug McNair pointed the son of Bettors Delight-Southwind Silence to the lead from Post 5 and after carving out splits of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:26.2 he kicked home in :30.1 to win by 6-1/2 lengths over Santana Hanover in 1:56.3.  Wall Street Bell was third.

Gregg McNair trains the gelding, who now owns a 1-0-1 record from three starts, for owners Michael & Sam Sergi of Canton, NY.  He’s banked almost $20,000 to date.

The Moment Arose went the distance in the second split for Team McNair to give them the sweep of this year’s eliminations.

Doug McNair muscled to the lead from Post 1 with the colt who drilled his way through fractions of :27.4, :58.3 and 1:27.4 before smoking home in :28.4 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over the even-money favourite, Moment Is Here.  Better Bea Terror came first-over and wound up third.

John Stamatis, Joseph Orofiamma and James Georgakopoulos share ownership on the son of Control The Moment-Goldstar Rosie who improved his rookie record to 2-0-1 from three starts with the win.  He’s banked over $30,000 to date.

The top four finishers from each elimination plus one of the fifth-place finishers advance to next Monday’s final.  Here’s how they’ll line-up in that rich tilt:

Battle Of Waterloo
1. Bettor Bea Terror
2. Sounds Good
3. Santana Hanover
4. Watch My Chips
5. The Moment Arose
6. Moment Is Here
7. Coop A Loop
8. Wall Street Bell
9. Parsons

Battle Of The Belles Eliminations

Shake It Twice was treated to a perfect, pocket trip in her $10,000 elimination, and she parlayed it into a 1:56.3 triumph for Team McNair.

The daughter of Sportswriter-Set Me Up stalked Lyons Bettorday through fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:28.2 before Doug McNair angled the pocket sitter to the outside.  Shake It Twice used a :27.4 closing quarter to prevail by a nose over tempo-setting Lyons Bettorday.  Third prize went to Wifey Said So. 

Gregg McNair trains the pacing lass for owners John Fleischman of Ottawa, ON and Georges Groulx Jr of Gatineau, QC.  The win improved her rookie record to 2-0-1 from three assignments and the $5,000 payday bumped her bankroll to $19,060.

Brynley Seelster also received a ground-saving trip in the two hole for most of the mile in the second elimination, and she used it to help her post a 1:56.1 score in her $10,000 assignment.

Jody Jamieson left out from Post 6 with the Jack Darling trainee who stalked Miss Canada through first-half fractions of :27.3 and :57.3.  Blue Glamber attacked first-over in the backstretch, and she showed the lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2.  Jamieson swung out with Brynley Seelster at that point, and she proceeded to pace home in :29.3 to win by three-quarters of a length over Blue Glamber.  Western Flames came on late to finish third.

The daughter of Big Jim-Better Than Happy is owned by Jack Darling Stables Ltd of Cambridge, Ont.  It was a maiden-breaking score for the winner of $11,345.

Big Big Plans was heavily favoured in the final elimination, and she front-stepped her way to an impressive victory for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Bob McIntosh.

The daughter of All Bets Off-Somethinincredible blasted to the top from Post 5 and successfully whacked out panels of :28.1, :58 and 1:27 before scooting home in :29.3 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Glenboro in 1:56.3.  Taking home third prize was Ima Doll.

Robert Mcintosh Stables Inc, Mardon Stables and Dave Boyle share ownership on the three-time winner who  bumped her lifetime earnings to $109,120 with the triumph.

The top three finishers from each elimination will advance to next Monday's final.  Here's how they'll line up behind the starting gate:

Battle Of The Belles 
1. Shake It Twice
2. Brynley Seelster
3. Western Flames
4. Blue Glamber
5. Big Big Plans
6. Wifey Said So
7. Ima Doll
8. Lyons Bettorday
9. Glenboro

On the undercard it was Arrakis who parlayed a pocket trip into a narrow triumph in the $11,000 Preferred Trot for the tandem of driver Bob McClure and trainer Francis Guillemette.

Power And Grace knifed her way through fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:27.1, but Arrakis angled out for clearance in the lane and used a :29.4 closing panel to haul her down.  His margin of victory over Power And Grace was a neck in the 1:57.1 decision.  Race favourite Cool Muscle was beaten that same margin while finishing a fast-closing third.

Guillemette of Guelph, ON owns the 10-year-old son of Federal Flex-Kawartha An Worthy.  The victory was his sixth of the season and the 33rd of his career.  The veteran is quickly closing in on $500,000 in lifetime earnings.

Best Honey Hanover blasted to the top in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace for Travis Cullen, and they never looked back en route to an easy victory.

The mare shot to the top from Post 4 and successfully laid down panels of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.3 before using her :29.1 speed on the end of the mile to win in 1:54.4 over Marzannk Hanover and Broken.

Macy Cassell trains the seven-year-old daughter of Art Major-Best Chance Hanna for owner Keith Cassell of Smiths Falls, ON.  The win was her eighth of the season and the 40th of her career.  She’s now banked in excess of $250,000.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.