Distant Lover impresses in third straight

Rookie Betterthanchedar filly Distant Lover romped to a four-and-a-quarter-length victory in the Prospect Series on Wednesday (Sep. 6) at Grand River Raceway to remain undefeated.

Saddled with post seven, Jason Ryan sent the filly out hard and pushed her to the top just past the quarter in :28.4. The middle panels went in :58.4 and 1:27.1, and no one could mount a challenge as Distant Lover distanced herself from the field and rolled to a 1:55.4 victory. Quiet Asssurances  (Bruce Richardson) moved three-wide on the far turn and passed horses to take second. Bet Im Shady (Tyler Borth) finished third.

DISTANT LOVER REPLAY

Distant Lover is three-for-three so far with all starts in the Prospect Series. The filly, trained by Nick Gallucci for Determination, has earned $13,100.

There were three more divisions of leg 5A for two-year-old pacing fillies and three for their colt counterparts on the card.

Halva Hanover (Bettors Delight, Anthony Haughan) went all the way for her second career victory in the first filly division in 1:58.4. The Tony Beaton pupil has now won both of her starts in the Prospect Series and has earned $13,954 in six tries.

HALVA HANOVER REPLAY

Wheres My Phone (Big Jim, Brett MacDonald) battled through a first-over trip to a length-and-three-quarter third-division victory in 1:58.1. It was the third tally for the filly and her fastest to date. Gregg McNair has trained her to a $16,369 bankroll.

WHERES MY PHONE REPLAY

Scrappy (Stag Party, Jody Jamieson) held off a late challenge on the lead to complete the division with a 1:57.4 win. The Carl Jamieson-trained filly is now two-for-nine with $9,548 in earnings.

SCRAPPY REPLAY

Better Than Never (Betterthancheddar) finished fastest off a three-wide mvove for Michael Horner in the first colt division in 1:59.1. It was the colt’s third victory in six outings this season for Horner, who trains and drives him.

BETTER THAN NEVER REPLAY

Hope N Pray (Mcwicked, Tyler Moore) survived multiple challenges in a tough front-end effort in the second split with a 1:58.3 clocking. The win was the first for the colt since shipping to Ontario from the Maritimes in July. Ian Moore conditions the freshman, who is now three-for-nine with $11,274 in the bank.

HOPE N PRAY REPLAY

Meet Me In Mekonos (Bettors Delight, Austin Sorrie) produced the most convincing win of the male divisions with a three-length score in 1:58.4. He secured his second lifetime win for trainer McNair and upped his lifetime earnings to $11,272.

MEET ME IN MEKONOS REPLAY

The final Prospect Series preliminary leg, 5B, for the two-year-old pacing fillies is set for Sep. 13 at Grand River Raceway. The colts will complete their regular season the next day at Flamboro Downs.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink