After making a break and finishing up the track in the top class for trotters at Grand River Raceway on June 30, Trix And Stones returned to the Preferred 2 & 3 class on Wednesday and rallied to an impressive-looking triumph in the $11,500 event.
Trix And Stones spent the entire mile on the outside looking in, and at some points he was three wide for driver Travis Cullen. Race favourite Willyorwonthe carved out fractions of :28, :57.2 and 1:27, but he couldn’t take it the distance.
It was Trix And Stones, who got away seventh and then picked up one position at each of the quarter calls, who trotted home in :30.4 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Horse Trader in 1:58.2. Willyorwonthe had to settle for third prize.
Patrick Shepherd trains the five-year-old son of Trixton-Baby Bella for Triple S Equine of Newton, ON. The victory was the fifth of the season – and the 12th to date – for the career winner of $289,528.
It was a solid night at the office for trainer Gerard Demers, who sent out three starters and came away victorious with each of them.
Class-dropping Norwegian Dad was a driving away winner in 1:59 in Race 4 to get the ball rolling for Demers. Two races later it was Neon Lights rolling to a handy victory in 1:58.3. In the very next race it was Aidan James rolling to the top and front-stepping to a 2:02.1 triumph in a $6,500 event for two-year-old colt pacers.
Demers has produced a 17-4-9 record from 74 starts this season – a record that translates into a UTR of .330 and earnings in excess of $85,000. The career winner of 1,103 races has produced lifetime earnings of more than $7.2 million.
To view results for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.