Bastiano big in Preferred

Bastiano battled back in the stretch of the Preferred 2&3 Handicap Trot at Grand River Raceway on Sunday and got up for his first top-level win at an Ontario harness racing track since November 2020.

The Angus Hall gelding left in a line of three with Tymal Houdini (Travis Henry) and Wild And Crazy Guy (Martin Lachance) and beat them both to the front thanks to his post two position. Bastiano set a :27.4 first quarter mile before facing a rush from Wild And Crazy Guy, who marched from the backfield as the field of six approached the half in :58.

Bastiano stopped his foe’s advance on the third turn, but Los Ballykeelamigo (Bob McClure) presented a new challenge as he exploded three-wide on the backstretch. Driver Scott Coulter popped Bastiano’s plugs at three-quarters in 1:27.2 to hold off the challenger, but Los Ballykeelamigo put a head in front as they turned for home.

Bastiano unleashed more trot on the inside and leveraged the turn to regain his advantage. Los Ballykeelamigo closed in again on the outside, but Bastiano kept his nose in front to the finish for the 1:58.1 victory. Los Ballykeelamigo was second. Horse Trader (Jean Bernard Renaud) circled the remainder of the field to take third.

BASTIANO REPLAY

Bastiano has now won 23 of 93 career starts and has amassed $153,508 in earnings. Shane Arsenault trains the seven-year-old for Bernie Bahr of Georgetown. The gelding last won a Preferred level race at Flamboro Downs on Nov. 10, 2020.

Also on the card, two-year-old Muscle Mass filly Tioga Sunshine broke her maiden in the Prospect Series. She took the lead at the quarter and held it to the finish, winning in 2:03.3 for driver Travis Henry, trainer Harry Poulton, and owners Thestable Tioga Sunshine and Little E LLC.

TIOGA SUNSHINE REPLAY

Grand River Raceway hosts 10 races on its next card set for Friday, Sep. 10 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink