My Land stakes claim at Grand River

ELORA, Ont. – My Land visited the winner’s circle for the first time in 2021 as she won the Grand River Raceway harness racing feature on Friday.

She tucked in third at the start for Paul Mackenzie, but the parked out Next Big Thing (Austin Sorrie) relegated her to fourth. My Land stayed on the pylons through the first quarter mile in :27.1 and half in :55.2 as Next Big Thing continued to fight on the outside.

Mackenzie pulled My Land second-over as the nine-horse field headed to three-quarters in 1:24. The gelding gained gradually on Next Big Thing, who made front on the backstretch, but the leader held a four-length cushion turning for home. That advantage evaporated in the stretch as an exhausted Next Big Thing faded, and My Land flew by in the final meters to take the victory in 1:54.

Next Big Thing held second in a brave effort; Lets Get Pickled (Michel Vanderkemp) finished third. The winner paid $13.10.

MY LAND REPLAY

My Land, a four-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding, has now won four races and earned $62,099 for La Ferme Tag Inc. of Papineauville. The owners bought the horse from the London Selected sale for $10,000 in 2019. Gerard Demers trains.

Grand River Raceway will be back at 6:30 p.m. EDT on Monday, Jul. 5 for an 11-race evening.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnessslink