Battle of Waterloo, Battle of the Belles eliminations set

ELORA, ON (July 26, 2023) — Eliminations will go for both of Grand River Raceway’s marquee harness racing events after 11 dropped into the box for the Battle of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farm, and 12 entered for the Battle of the Belles.

A total of four eliminations – two for the Battle of Waterloo and two for the Battle of the Belles – will go to gate on Monday (July 31st) with first-race post time at 6:30 p.m. (EDT).

Both Battle of Waterloo eliminations will be contested over consecutive races that evening (races 7 & 8).

The first elimination gathers five, including Manhawk (Stag Party), a Scott Mceneny pupil, who is the lone winner in this field, after taking a mark of 1:58.2 in his pari-mutuel debut on June 27th at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Joining him will be Crush Kill Destroy (Betterthancheddar), trained by Per Engblom and Max Patrick, trained by Gabriella Sasso, who are both coming out of back-to-back OSS Gold legs at Mohawk.

The second elimination – with six aligning – is headlined by Do Better (Bettors Delight), who is a perfect 3-3 to start his career, including a 1:51.3 score in his most recent try, in an OSS Gold leg at Mohawk. He is sent out by owner/breeder/trainer Robert Mcintosh, and will draw the outermost post.

The eliminations for the Battle of the Belles will take place earlier on the card (races 3 & 4) and will have an even split of six in each division. The first elimination will be headlined by a daughter of McWicked — Wicked Weather — who is coming off a dominant, maiden-breaking score at Mohawk on July 25th, in a clocking of 1:53.3. The Anthony Beaton trainee will start from the rail.

Joining her will be a pair of fillies trained by Dave Menary — How Much (All Bets Off) and Bonitas Best Bet (All Bets Off) — who have combined for three wins in six starts this season. Both hold identical marks of 1:55.4 as well. The second elimination also contains a pair of Dave Menary trainees, headlined by Pass Line (All Bets Off). The filly has three wins in four tries this season, including a win in an OSS Gold on June 11th, in a clocking of 1:51.4, which is a national season’s mark for two-year-old pacing fillies. She will start from post-position three.

For the two Battle of Waterloo eliminations, the top-four finishers will advance to the $235,200 final with a fifth-place finisher drawn by lot. Both of the Battle of the Belles eliminations will follow the same format, with the top-four finishers advancing to the $158,400 final, and the fifth place finisher drawn by lot.

The winner of each elimination earns a guaranteed draw between posts 1 and 5 for their respective finals. The 34th edition of Industry Day will take place on Monday, August 7th.

Check out further details about Industry Day by clicking here.

by Louise Frost, for Grand River Raceway