New best for B-track mainstay in Preferred-2

Marvin Hagler (Crazed) lowered his harness racing lifetime mark as he won the Preferred-2 Trot at Grand River Raceway on Monday (Jul. 8).

With Brett MacDonald in the bike, the gelding swept from third to the lead coming down the backstretch, created a three-length cushion at the top of the stretch, and trotted home to score by two lengths in 1:56. Insanity (Jason Ryan) took second with Heavy Dude E (Ryan Desroche) marching for third.

MARVIN HAGLER REPLAY

Marvin Hagler is now five-for-17 on the season for trainer Mark MacQuarrie. Monday’s win was the gelding’s first at the Preferred level this year and the second of his career. His previous lifetime-best time of 1:57.1 was set in June. The five-year-old has won 21 of 74 total starts and has earned $162,392 for co-owners MacQuarrie and Mary Pedden.

Boston Bound (Boston Red Rocks) took his first win of the year in the co-featured Horses and Geldings Preferred-2 Pace. Coming off a string of three place finishes, the stallion wired the field under the guidance of Jason Ryan and won by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:52. Arties Ideal (Samuel Fillion) prevailed in a four-across finish for place with Sportsline (J. Bradley Harris) grabbing third.

BOSTON BOUND REPLAY

Boston Bound, trained by Marie Helene Dupont, had nine prior starts in 2024 with four seconds. He has won 10 times and earned $170,180 in 40 lifetime tries. Dupont co-owns the four-year-old with Ecurie CSL.

Also on the card was the start of the Prospect Series, the third tier of the Ontario-sired program, for two-year-old pacers. The winners of the three colt-and-gelding divisions were Dancininthefire (Dancin Lou, Colin Kelly, 1:55.2), Grin And Win (Believeinbruiser, Tyler Moore, 1:56), and Up Front Bb (Stay Party, Ryan Holliday, 1:57.3). The winners among the fillies were Tj Bliss (Big Jim, Scott Young, 1:56.2), Eternal Delight (Bettors Delight, Fillion, 1:57.2), and Bb Ballykeel (Big Bad John, Travis Henry, 1:58.2). All six were making their career debuts.

Racing is scheduled to resume at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday, Jul. 10 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink