Four break maidens at Grand River

A trio of two-year-olds, one older harness racing horse, and a trainer broke their maidens on Friday at Grand River Raceway.

Delightful Magic earned a first career visit to the winner’s circle for himself and his trainer and owner, Chrislin Nother, in the fifth race.

Brett Macdonald set the gelding up with a second-over trip, and Delightful Magic kicked away on the far turn before holding off a closing challenger to score in 1:57.4.

Nother acquired the gelding in July 2020 and made her first start as a trainer with the horse on Aug. 7. The Friday victory was Nother’s eighth attempt with the horse. Delightful Magic is one-for-11 overall.

Mikalob Ultra, in line to Anthony Haughan, kicked off the evening with a decisive wire-to-wire win in 1:56. Carl Jamieson trains and co-owns the two-year-old Always B Miki colt with Thomas Kyron of Toronto and George Harrison of Wanes Walton (England). Mikalob Ultra was unsuccessful twice at Woodbine Mohawk Park before his Friday start.

Guy Gagnon piloted his $7,000 Harrisburg Sale purchase, Rolling In Clover, to a front-end 2:01.3 win in the second race. The freshman Kadabra gelding stopped the timer in 2:01.3 in his third lifetime start. Gagnon trains and shares ownership via his Ecuries Guy Gagnon Inc. with Gestion Louis Latulippe Inc. and Gestion Bruno Blouin Inc., both of which are based in Saint-Ferreol-les-Neiges.

Morethanmyhometown, also racing for the third time, overtook three foes in the stretch for driver Austin Sorrie to break her maiden in 1:58.3. Murray Brethour trains the two-year-old daughter of Hes Watching for Peyton Scott of Douro-Drummer.

Grand River Raceway hosts elimination races for its signature races, the Battle of the Belles and Battle of Waterloo, on Monday. The 10-race card will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink