Beach Friend beastly on debut

Enterprise colt Beach Friend kickstarted his harness racing career with a comprehensive victory over two-year-old rivals at Grand River Raceway on Friday (Jul. 29).

The colt rocketed out from post five and asserted himself on the lead for Paul Mackenzie in a :29.2 first quarter mile. He edged away to a two-length cushion by the half in :59.4 and begun to kick away in the third quarter.

He reached three-quarters in 1:29.3 up by four-and-a-half lengths and ran up the score as he came to the line eight lengths the best in 2:00.3.

Oceanview Miley (Wheeling N Dealin, Tyler Borth) and Sant Ambroggio (Wheeling N Dealin, Daniel Obrian) finished second and third, respectively. The winner returned $6.

BEACH FRIEND REPLAY

Beach Friend was a $25,000 buy for Ractchford Stable of North Sydney at the Blooded Horse Sale. Dr. Ian More trains the colt out of Cantab Hall mare Candelaria Deo.

Tyler Borth piloted five winning horses on the day. Chappiesboy (Sportswriter, 1:55.2), Lady Guinevere (Royalty For Life, 2:01.1), Shadowmoon Rising (Shadow Play, 1:56.4), Docs Papparazzi (Hes Watching, 1:56.2), and Arcanum (Archangel, 1:58.1) all won with Borth in the bike.

The next card at Grand River Raceway is Industry Day on Monday, Aug. 1. The racing program features the Battle of Waterloo, Battle of the Belles, and the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold third leg for three-year-old pacing fillies. First post is set for 12:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink