Harris sends ‘Mille May’ to Battle

Ontario native Andrew Harris is relishing the chance to win one of the province’s most coveted harness racing events for two-year-old pacing fillies, the Battle of the Belles.

His hopes lie with Millie May Hanover (Bettors Delight), whom he sends into the first elimination this evening (Jul. 29) at Grand River Raceway. The filly enters the contest after back-to-back place finishes in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold series. Louis-Philippe Roy will take the reins and guide her out from post two.

Harris, who has operated out of New Jersey throughout his training career, said a victory in the ‘Belles would take him back to his roots.

“I grew up around these parts in Canada,” he said. “These races are embedded in my youth. So winning would mean so much to my inner child.”

Harris and partners William Pollock and Bruce Areman combined to purchase Millie May Hanover from the Harrisburg sale for $300,000. She is out of the OSS Gold-winning mare Mayhem Seelster, whose four previous foals have all earned more than $150,000 and taken a mark of 1:51 or better. Mirage Hanover, the filly’s full brother, has won multiple OSS Gold legs and made the Meadowlands Pace Final on Jul. 13.

Millie May Hanover qualified twice south of the border, finishing second with a :26.2 kicker on Jun. 29, before shipping to Woodbine Mohawk Park for her debut in the first OSS Gold leg on Jul. 6. That action-filled first start saw her grab the pocket spot, battle for the lead down the backstretch, and be shuffled to fifth before charging down the stretch for a narrow place finish in 1:52.3. Ten days later, she was allowed a straightforward brush to the front, but Wickedpace hunted her down late to beat her for the second straight week.

MILLIE MAY HANOVER JULY 6 REPLAY

Harris said he’s been pleased with the filly.

“[She’s] trained great,” he said. “She’s an easy horse to be around — no tricks. An honest Bettors Delight [and a] little professional.

“I’ve seen her progressing so much really. She’s not great on the front, the whole family has a history of being not the best up there. They all seem like they have an unreal kick home with targets.”

With Wickedpace drawn into the other elimination, Millie May Hanover is the 8/5 morning-line favourite. Her opposition is, from the rail out, Darlenes Angel (Sylvain Filion, 5/2), Wicked Cruizer (Jody Jamieson, 3-1), Saddlebags (Doug McNair, 9/2), Rovers Return (Jason Ryan, 8-1), Manhattan Mayhem (Bob McClure, 10-1), Ithadtobeyou (James MacDonald, 8-1), and Famous Fast Words (Travis Henry, 6-1).

Wickedpace will have her hands full in the second group with Wicked N Single, a fellow daughter of Mcwicked and two-time stakes winner. The former has won three straight after a place finish on debut, including back-to-back OSS Gold scores. Paul Cameron trains the rookie and shares ownership with Jayme Cameron and Arnolds Horse Shack. She will start from the two-hole with Jamieson at the controls.

Wicked N Single circled the field first out in the Tompkins-Geers first time out on Jun. 27, closing in :27 after an uncovered march in the win. She then stormed away by five lengths in the first OSS Gold leg on Jul. 6 in 1:53.3 to make her record two-for-two. In the second round of the Gold series last time, she could only manage third as Chantilly set the fastest time by a two-year-old in North America this year. The Tony Beaton trainee has earned $81,866 for owners Lisa Lefort and David Mercer. James MacDonald will handle the filly from post four.

WICKED N SINGLE JULY 6 REPLAY

Those two will be challenged by Mystic Moment (Roy, 10-1), Blowin Doe (Brett MacDonald, 8-1), Better In Heels (Paul Davies, 12-1), Oneformybaby (McNair, 4-1), Windsor Patty (Travis Cullen, 15-1), Lady Cafe Au Lait (Filion, 6-1), and Perfectly Chic (McClure, 5/2).

The fillies will contest the Battle of the Belles eliminations in races two and four. The top four finishers from each split and one fifth-place finisher drawn by lot will make the final.

The field for the twin stake for colts and geldings, the $205,000 Battle of Waterloo, will also be decided through two eliminations on the card in races six and eight.

OSS Gold winner Stonebridge Wizard (Dancin Lou) is the 8/5 morning line choice in the first elim from post two. The Jared Bako pupil debuted with a dominant conditioned win, followed by a Gold score on Jul. 5. He was tough in a marginal defeat 10 days later in round two of the series, missing by a head after a first-over move. Doug McNair, the winningest driver in Battle of Waterloo history, chose the colt over the entry of his father Gregg McNair, Crack Shot (Bettors Delight).

Crack Shot, a 2-1 chance on the morning line, is undefeated in two OSS Grassroots starts. The colt won the latest by a nose in 1:54.3 at Mohawk Park. He got over the new Grand River five-eighths-mile oval well when he qualified here in 2:00.4 in June. Travis Cullen is listed on the gelding, starting from the four-hole.

The other Battle hopefuls in elimination one are Out Of Ice (Jody Jamieson, 3-1), Bunkhouse Boss (Brett MacDonald, 12-1), Set Shot (Filion, 5-1), Docs Buddy (Roy, 4-1), Sunsational (McClure, 7-1), Sterling Choice (James MacDonald, 6-1), and Boyd Bay (Ryan, 10-1).

Blue Bar (All Bets Off) heads the second group after a dominant 1:52.3 triumph in the OSS Grassroots. The colt, trained by Jodie Cullen, has won back-to-back Grassroots legs following a fourth-place and second-place finish in his initial two outings. Travis Cullen will steer his homebred from post nine.

Fellow Grassroots winners Tito N Cheddar (Betterthancheddar, Roy, 4-1) and Tip Of Time (Shadow Play, Filion, 3-1) have drawn spots one and four on the gate, respectively. The Murray Brethour-trained Tito N Cheddar broke his maiden in the first leg of that series on Jul. 8 in 1:54.1 and finished second last out after ceding the lead late. The colt is now one-for-three-with $15,948 in earnings. Tip Of Time secured his first win on Jul. 18 in the Grassroots in 1:54.2 for trainer Dr. Ian Moore after a game place effort behind Tito N Cheddar on debut. OSS Gold show finisher Fifth And Five (Bettors Delight, 2-1) rounds out the list of top contenders from post three for Team Jamieson.

The rest of the field consists of Time Passer (Travis Henry, 10-1, post 2), Parlay King (Doug McNair, 8-1, post 5), Allstar Maniac (James MacDonald, 7/2, post 6), Connor B (Brett MacDonald, 12-1, post 7), and Wicked Weston (Ryan, 6-1, post 8).

The finals of both events will be held on the annual Industry Day card on Aug. 5.

First post on Monday’s card is set for 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink