Harvest Series champ scores in lifetime best

Goober Smack (Flanagan Memory) won his third harness racing contest in his past four starts as the 2023 Harvest Series winner set a new career best at Grand River Raceeway on Wednesday (Aug. 28).

Bruce Richardson, behind the colt for the first time, let three by from the rail and slotted him in fourth through :27.3 and :57 first-half fractions. He teed off first-over as the field turned onto the backstretch and went after leader Allstar Goldi (Daryl Thiessen), battling into the stretch. Goober Smack produced the best late kick in the middle of the track and outsprinted his opponent, drawing clear by two lengths for the 1:56.1 victory. Allstar Goldi finished second over Fantastic Mvp (Travis Henry).

GOOBER SMACK REPLAY

Goober Smack has raced in three Ontario Sires Stakes legs this year and made the Goodtimes final. The Susanne Kerwood-trained sophomore won the Harvest Series last season and is six-for-14 lifetime with $74,125 in earnings. S&R Racing Stable of Acton owns the colt.

Also on the card, Devils Kiss (Archangel) broke his maiden in his 25th lifetime start. He went wire-to-wire with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike in 1:58.3. The gelding, who has raced at Woodbine Mohawk Park for much of his career, has earned $45,915 for trainer Kyle Fellows and owners N. Yolanda Fellows, Arpad Szabo, Blair Corbeil, and Mike McAllister.

Grand River Raceway will host its next card on Friday, Aug. 30 with a 6:30 p.m. EDT first post.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink