Northern Royale battles for Preferred win

Northern Royale kept a keen challenger at bay for the entire stretch drive to take the Georgian Downs harness racing Preferred 3 Trot on Sunday.

The five-year-old Northern Royale brushed to the front after sitting in the pocket for the first quarter mile in :28.3. Driver Jean Bernard Renaud steered the mare to a half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:27.2, after which Veyron (J Bradley Harris) made a first-over advance to pressure the leader.

Northern Royale never allowed Veyron to get closer to victory than a half-length, as the former held firm to the finish line, which she crossed in 1:56.3. Veyron took place, and Sicario (Austin Sorrie) finished third after backing out of the battle for win. The winner paid $10.50.

Julie Walker conditions Northern Royale, a daughter of Royalty for Life, for Brenda Walker of Owen Sound and Nancy Holmes, who resides in Clinton. The horse is now 11-for-36 in her career with earnings of $129,655.

Travis Henry doubled on the Georgian card after winning three at Clinton Raceway earlier in the day. Bob McClure also took two at the lines at Georgian.

Keith Jones harnessed two winners – Rocketing (1:59.4) and All Muscle N Sass (1:59.3) – as a trainer on Sunday. They were his first two trips to the winner’s circle of 2021.

Georgian Downs sees racing again on Tuesday, Jun. 22, when it will hold 10 dashes, including a Preferred 3. The card will begin at 7:15 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink