Dominance in $95,500 Gold

Willowtime (Lookslikeachpndale) proved much the best over his Ontario Sires Stakes Gold harness racing rivals in the first $95,500 division for three-year-old trotting males at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday (Aug. 14).

The colt blitzed the first quarter in :27 and went unchallenged past the stands in :57.1 with Bob McClure at the lines. The first-over What About Elmo (Tyler Jones) made no impact as Willowtime trotted to three-quarters in 1:25.2, building up a three-and-a-half-length gap. The leader left the field further behind coming around the last turn and cruised down the stretch to score by three lengths in 1:55.2. Captain Wania (Trevor Henry) held on for place over Fabulous Freddie (Chris Christoforou) in a photo.

WILLOWTIME REPLAY

Willowtime, a defending Ontario Sires Stakes champion, was winless this year before Wednesday’s performance. Mark Etsell trains the sophomore, who is now five-for-14 with $469,147 in lifetime earnings. He co-owns him with Terry Devos of Langton and Peter Porter of Port Dover.

In the second division, Paquet (Muscle Mass) circled all but one opponent to win his second lifetime start. He started seventh on this occasion and remained there halfway down the backstretch, sitting third-over. Jody Jamieson fanned him widest of all horses as the field rounded the final turn, and Paquet rocketed to the front for a two-length victory in 1:54.

Northern Looker (Christoforou), a 25-1 shot, fought-three-wide around the turn and finished second. Myretirementdream (Scott Young) finished third.

PAQUET REPLAY

Paquet, trained by Carl Jamieson, crushed by 10 lengths in his March debut but was off four-and-a-half months before qualifying again a week ago. He is perfect through two outings and has earned $56,000 for Jamieson, who co-owns the Estate of Brian Paquet, 1140545 Ontario Ltd., and Doug Good.

McClure won three after his Gold win for a grand slam.

The three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will contest their final preliminary Gold leg on Sep. 30.

Racing at Grand River Raceway will continue on Friday, Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink