Captain Ray takes control in GRR feature

Captain Ray quickly asserted himself at the helm in Grand River Raceway’s first feature pace since September 2020 and went wire-to-wire to win it.

Driver Paul Mackenzie showed no hesitation sending Captain Ray directly to the lead from the inside with vigorous urging, and the pair took the lead going into the first turn. Mackenzie carved out splits of :27.4, :57.4, and 1:27 on the front end and turned for home with a two-length advantage.

Captain Ray’s eight foes fanned out behind him entering the stretch, but none were able to out-finish him as he completed his third lifetime victory in 1:56.1.

Dance Machine (Austin Sorrie) was the main threat in the late stages, but he was a length and a quarter short in second. Dreaming Out Loud (Alfie Carroll) took show. The winner paid $7.40.

Captain Ray is now three-for-22 lifetime with a bankroll that now exceeds $20,000. The four-year-old Captaintreacherous gelding was returning from a layoff that began on Mar. 29, 2021 due to the shutdown of racing in Ontario. Gerard Demers trains for Jean Roch Marois of St-Joachim-De-Shefford.

Also on the card, Twin B Powerball won Ontario’s first harness race since Apr. 7. Brett Macdonald directed the Bettors Delight gelding to leave with the car from post seven. The horse did and subsequently led every remaining step in a 1:55 victory. Richard Moreau trains for owners Gaston Bibeau of Sorel-Tracy and Ecurie Francis Richard of Becancour.

Mackenzie was the only reinsman to triple on Ontario’s re-opening day after a two-month province-wide lockdown that began on Apr. 8. He scored with Saltwater Savage (1:56.1), Norwegian Dad (1:57.2), and Captain Ray.

Grand River Raceway will continue racing on Monday, Jun. 14 with a program of 11 races beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT. The track is currently operating under strict COVID-19 prevention guidelines and does now allow spectators.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink