Pretty Handsome looks great in Georgian opener

Pretty Handsome captured the featured Preferred 3 Pace at Georgian Downs on Tuesday in the track’s 2021 curtain-raising harness racing card.

Colin Kelly declined to make an early move with Pretty Handsome, who was five-for-10 at Georgian with four seconds coming into the race, and tucked the gelding into third from post three. The field of five proceeded in starting order through the first quarter mile in :27 and half in :56.3 before Pretty Handsome made the first move to the outside.

Pretty Handsome made steady inroads and was second by three-quarters in 1:24.4, but leader Ideal Jet (Nick Boyd) kept him behind at the entrance to the final turn. Pretty Handsome put a nose in front as they angled into the stretch, though, and pulled away under urging from Kelly to a two-and-three-quarter-length victory in 1:53.

Ideal Jet held on for second over a late-closing Osborne Seelster (Aaron Byron), who finished third. The winner performed as the bettors expected, as he paid $2.30.

Pretty Handsome’s victory was his 33rd lifetime in 73 starts. The six-year-old Mach Three gelding has earned $331,895 for Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein. Lacey McCabe trains the horse.

Kelly, Austin Sorrie, and Paul Mackenzie had doubles in the bike.

The card was Georgian’s season opener. The Innisfil, ON oval has not seen action since Sep. 30, 2020. It currently operates with COVID-19 prevention procedures in place and does not allow spectators. Georgian Downs will be back on Saturday, Jun. 19.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink