Moore, Macdonald get hot at Grand River

Harness racing drivers Tyler Moore and Brett Macdonald both put forth successful evenings on Friday at Grand River Raceway, with each reinsman winning four races on the 11-dash program.

Moore started his day successfully, winning from the front end in 1:56.4 with two-year-old Shadow Play filly Galleria Seelster in the opener. Six-year-old Yankee Cruiser mare If You Knew Susie gave the Guelph-based reinsman his second victory in the fourth race, grinding first-over for the 1:55.4 score. Moore then increased his tally further in the fifth behind Controlthelightnin (2:01.1), a two-year-old son of Control The Moment.

He failed to find the winner’s circle again until the finale, but Moore completed his grand slam in style. Little Mary dropped behind by more than 15 lengths after a break at the start but closed through every panel and soared in the final quarter for a 1:57.4 comeback triumph. The judges launched an inquiry into the mare’s break, but they ruled that she did not violate the rules of racing. Little Mary, a four-year-old Bettors Delight mare, is one of two horses trained by Michael Salis.

LITTLE MARY REPLAY

Macdonald’s quadruple was concentrated in races seven through 10. He visited the winner’s circle in the seventh with Something Royal, a six-year-old daughter of Western Paradise, after a second-over steer. The Freelton resident then won with resilient Jetset Charmer (1:58.3), Wings Up (1:59), and Reggies Game (1:57.4) in the eighth, ninth, and 10th for a natural grand slam.

Colin Kelly still tops the drivers’ standings, but Macdonald is now four wins away from the lead after his fruitful Friday evening. Moore is in 11th place.

Grand River Raceway’s next card on Monday, Aug. 9 features a Preferred 2 for male pacers. First post is set for 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink