Grand River underway with Prospect Series

Grand River Raceway began its 20th season of harness racing on Friday (Jun. 2) and featured five leg 1B Prospect Series divisions on the opening day card.

Three-year-old Filly Trot

City Of London Series Final winner Cash Deals (Wheeling N Dealin, Mario Baillargeon) took her sixth win of the season and lowered her career mark to 1:59.1 in a wire-to-wire romp. Its Sally Deal (Scott Wray) was six lengths back in second. Angelic Kt (Brett MacDonald) finished third. Cash Deals is now six-for-14 lifetime with $39,710 for The Stable’s Cash Deals Group and trainer Baillargeon.

CASH DEALS REPLAY

Lastkickathecan (Wheeling N Dealin, Tyler Borth) tracked down Champagne Bettina (Preston Shaw) after pulling first-up on the backstretch and scored in 1:59.4. Champagne Bettina finished second, a length clear of show finisher Sant Ambroggio (Daniel Obrian). Lastkickathecan raced once at two and was making her seasonal debut in the win. Dale Fritz trains the filly for Matthew Trelford, who acquired her in May.

LASTKICKATHECAN REPLAY

Three-year-old Filly Pace

Two Across Marion (Big Jim, Jason Ryan) got past pacesetter Paddy Melt (Stephen Byron) late after a pocket trip and won by a head in 1:56.4. Madame Kelly (MacDonald) closed for third. Two Across Marion debuted this year at three and is two-for-13 with $22,494. James Dean bred, owns, and trains the filly.

TWO ACROSS MARION REPLAY

2022 Prospect Series champion Gimmie A Corona (Control The Moment, Anthony Haughan) controlled the pace and won by two-lengths in 1:55.4 for her first win of the year. Lyons Ladyluck (Paul Mackenzie) tracked her from the pocket and finished second. Getting Euchred (Travis Henry) was third. Gimmie A Corona won the two-year-old pacing filly Prospect Series final last year. She is now trained by Meg Crone for Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener. The filly is six-for-17 lifetime with a bankroll of $38,914.

GIMMIE A CORONA REPLAY

Twin B Echo (Artspeak, J. Bradley Harris) won her first start of the year, surging late for a three-quarters-of-a-length victory in 1:55.4. She passed Oh Gouda (Michael Horner) and Prevail Seelster (Borth) in the stretch; they finished second and third, respectively. The winner has won three times in 12 lifetime outings and has earned $38,422. Jack Darling trains and owns the filly through Jack Darling Stables.

TWIN B ECHO REPLAY

The Prospect Series will continue on Jun. 11 at Dresden Raceway with leg 2A for the three-year-old trotting fillies.

Opening day handle was $260,183 on $79,800 in purses.

Grand River Raceway will race Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until Sep. 27. Its signature event, Industry Day, is set for Aug. 7. It will continue racing on Monday, Jun. 5.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink