Dontpokethedragon wins first Grand River start

Former top Western Canada harness racing gelding Dontpokethedragon (Custard The Dragon) was successful as he dropped from Woodbine Mohawk Park to the Grand River Preferred ranks on Wednesday (Jul. 6).

The five-year-old fired out from post five and swung in from the outside to take the lead approaching the quarter in :27.3. He laid down :57.3 and 1:26 middle panels with Champagne Phil (Natasha Day) pushing up first-over to provide pressure at the end of the latter sector.

Pocket-sitter Casimir Richie P (Beau Brown) rallied at the inside as they entered the stretch, but Dontpokethedragon staved off both challengers to score in 1:54.4.

Casimir Richie P finished second. Champagne Phil flattened out and came in third. The winner returned $5.

DONTPOKETHEDRAGON REPLAY

It was Dontpokethedragon’s second victory in 14 starts since moving to Ontario and the Jodie Cullen barn at the beginning of this year. He won the first leg of the Pop-Up Series on Jun. 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and had made every start in the province there before Wednesday. He was an Alberta Sires Stakes Super Final champion at two and won the Ed Tracey Memorial and Jim Vinnell Memorial last season. The gelding has made 19 trips to the winner’s circle and has raked in $191,730 from 68 lifetime attempts.

Grand River Raceway will be back in action at 6:30 p.m. EDT on Friday, Jul. 8.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink