Lyons Queen ends 14-month losing streak

Harness racing owner/trainer Rachel Andrew orchestrated a quick turnaround with Lyons Queen (Lyonssomewhere), getting the mare her first win since March 2022 on Wednesday (Jun. 14) at Grand River Raceway.

In her third start under Andrew, Lyons Queen went to the top with driver Austin Sorrie in the bike. She paced the first quarter in :28 and took a breather to the half in :58.4.

Maddy N Maggie mobilized first-up to challenge the leader on the third turn and was a neck back at three-quarters in 1:28.2. The pair battled on while swinging for home with little separating them, but Lyons Queen maintained her marginal advantage to the finish to win in 1:57.4.

Maddie N Maggie fell short by a neck. Brookdale Grace (Scott Coulter) finished third.

LYONS QUEEN REPLAY

Lyons Queen went 40 starts without a victory between March 2022 and June 2023. Shawn Johnston previously trained the mare, who hit the board 11 times in 32 outings in 2022. The five-year-old is now five-for-61 lifetime with $52,389 in earnings.

Also on the card, Tijuana Seelster (Muscle Mass, Colin Kelly) made it three straight victories and five wins in her past six starts. The mare rolled out of the pocket past Halo its Heaven (Brett MacDonald) to score in 1:56.4.

TIJUANA SEELSTER REPLAY

Tijuana Seelster has won eight of her 33 lifetime appearances and has earned $62,469. Jacob Roberts conditions the four-year-old for Triple S Equine of Newton.

Grand River Raceway will see action next on Friday, Jun. 16, with a 10-race card starting at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink