Respect Our Flag reaches $400,000

Respect Our Flag (Roll With Joe) hit a harness racing milestone on Monday (Jun. 12) – he won the Preferred-2 Pace at Grand River Raceway to increase his earnings past $400,000.

The gelding circled all but one of his opponents to do it. Ed Hensley dropped him back to seventh from post six and pulled him to the outside when heading to the half. The gelding treaded water on the rim, gapping cover, but began to find his stride turning for home. As he fanned wide, Respect Our Flag ignited and surged by four rivals to snag the victory in 1:54.4. St Lads Cash (Travis Henry) held onto second after cutting the mile. Bolt Power (Jason Ryan) finished third.

RESPECT OUR FLAG REPLAY

Respect Our Flag has made 159 starts with 32 wins. Jodie Cullen conditions the seven-year-old for Paul Sanders of Surrey and Travis and Ronald Cullen of Dundas.

Aussie Lover (Angus Hall, J. Bradley Harris) captured the co-featured Preferred-2 Trot on the card. The six-year-old gelding also motored late, nailing Sicario (Ryan) at the finish to score in 1:57.2. Sicario missed by a neck but held off pocket-sitter Power And Grace (Brett MacDonald) for second.

AUSSIE LOVER REPLAY

Aussie Lover is now 22-for-108 lifetime and has earned $208,545. The Gordon Remmen-trained six-year-old has won three of his past four. 8113564 Canada Ltd. and Remmen own the gelding.

Grand River Raceway will race next on Wednesday, Jun. 14. First post is set for 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink