Gias Surreal takes first win of the year in thriller

Gias Surreal (So Surreal) was parked the mile from post seven but persevered for her first win of the harness racing season in the Fillies and Mares Preferred-2 at Grand River Raceway on Friday (Sep. 8).

She charged out from the seven-hole for Tyler Moore stuck with leader Major League N (Ed Hensley) to the quarter in :26.1. Gias Surreal pressed on first-over to the half in :54.1, and In The Mood (J. Bradley Harris) joined the pair with a three-wide move nearing three-quarters in 1:23.2.

It was anyone’s race turning for home with each horse in the three-way fight within a length. Gias Surreal continued closing into deep-stretch, but the leader battled on, and Voelz Delight (Jason Ryan) surged from behind. They were five-abreast crossing the line, and Gias Surreal put her neck in front in the photo for the win in 1:53.4.

Voelz Delight pipped Major League N for place. In The Mood was three-quarters-of-a-length back in fourth, and Darkshadeofpale N (Colin Kelly) finished alongside her in fifth.

GIAS SURREAL REPLAY

Gias Surreal raced in the Grand Circuit earlier in the season with middling results in the Blue Chip Matchmaker series. She was also second twice at the Woodbine Mohawk Park top level but has slid down the condition ladder in the past two months. The seven-year-old has won 32 times in 130 lifetime starts and has earned $927,815. Donald Lindsey trains the mare for James Graham of Hamburg, Edward Peron of Syracuse, and Lee Winters of Medina.

In the early card, Aussie Lover (Angus Hall) also marched first-over to victory in the open Preferred-2. The gelding began his trek just before the half and pulled to within three lengths at three-quarters. He reeled in leader Aussie Lover on the final turn and got up by a neck in the last strides in 1:58. Power And Grace held second with Andy Over (Hensley) finishing third and gaining at the cones.

AUSSIE LOVER REPLAY

Aussie Lover, trained by Gordon Remmen, has now matched his 2022 win total with seven this year. He has tallied 24 times in his 117-start career and has amassed $227,195 lifetime. 8113564 Canada Ltd. co-owns the gelding with Remmen.

Grand River Raceway will race next on Monday, Sep. 11. The nine-race card will feature the final regular season leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots for two-year-old trotting fillies.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink