Betterhavemymoney victorious in $251,050 Battle of Waterloo

Elora, Ont.- Betterhavemymoney defeated fellow elimination winner Erinwood Yves in a two-horse harness racing war to capture the $251,050 Battle of Waterloo for Ontario-sired two-year-old pacing males on Monday at Grand River Raceway.

Neither horse gave an inch as they battled side-by-side into the first turn with Erinwood Yves (Jody Jamieson) on the pylons and Betterhavemymoney (James MacDonald) taking the wide path. Erinwood Yves surrendered the position as they neared the quarter mile pole, and Betterthancheddar gelding Betterhavemymoney took command as they hit that station in :26.2.

MacDonald moderated the speed for a :54.4 half with the top two still holding a three-length gap to their seven rivals. The field bunched up as Betterhavemymoney slowed further to a 1:24 three-quarters, and Century Inspector (Tyler Moore) made a move to the outside on the backstretch. Century Inspector failed to match pace with the top two though, and Erinwood Yves angled out on the far turn to begin his rally.

Erinwood Yves chipped into the leader’s advantage as they sprinted for home, but Betterhavemymoney dug in and crossed the line victorious with a head to spare in 1:52.4. Erinwood Yves was several lengths clear of Century Inspector, who finished third.

BETTERHAVEMYMONEY REPLAY

“No,” MacDonald said when asked if he ever considered taking the pocket. “I didn’t mind putting him in a spot where he had to do a lot to work as opposed to putting him in a spot where I might never get a chance to race.

“I kinda knew what [Jody] was doing, he was going to stretch me out as much as he could, and that’s just racing, that’s tactics, and it almost won him the race. […] My horse was just so good – he’s been so good.”

Betterhavemymoney is still undefeated in four career starts. He has already earned more than $225,000 with two victories in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold series and the Battle of Waterloo elimination and final. Nick Gallucci trains for Millar Farms of Stouffville which owns and bred the horse.

“I’d put him up against anyone in North America right now,” MacDonald said. “But time will tell, trips will tell [how good he will be], just hopefully he can stay good and stay hot.”

The $145,060 Battle of the Belles also went forward on the annual Industry Day card, and Love That Smile asserted herself as queen of the Ontario-sired two-year-old fillies.

Driver Louis-Philippe Roy pulled the daughter of Sportswriter to the outside on the first turn after letting four go past. Marching three-wide around a rough-gaited Cheryls Shadow (Jody Jamieson), Love That Smile rocketed to the front past the quarter in :27.3. She immediately felt pressure from Speak Your Mind (Tyler Moore), but Roy still gave his charge a breather to the half in :57.3.

Love That Smile put away Speak Your Mind as she accelerated to three-quarters in 1:26, and the leader gave the rest no chance with a strong sprint to the finish in 1:54.4. Big Bettor Hanover (Bob McClure) finished second after passing Warrawee Xpat late.

LOVE THAT SMILE REPLAY

Rene Bourassa trains Love That Smile, who has now won three of her five career starts. She finished second in a Gold event on Jul. 18 before taking her Battle of the Belles elimination. Bourassa co-owns with M&S Racing Stable Inc. of Rockwood, Gilles Caouette of Sudbury, and Marc Gelinas of Shawinigan.

The main attraction on an Industry Day that was stunted due to COVID-19 was driver Paul Macdonnell signing copies of the newly-released book about Somebeachsomewhere, whom he regularly drove. Somebeachsomewhere: A Harness Racing Legend from a One-horse Stable by Marjorie Simmins follows the story of how a syndicate group owned and campaigned “The Beach,” one of the greatest pacers of all time. The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was selling the book at their stand. It is also available for purchase at Indigo for $24.95.

For full race results from Grand River’s Industry Day card, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink