Stakes-winning filly takes new mark at Grand River

Mass Money (Muscle Mass), winner of her City of London Final earlier this year, bettered her tally to five-for-eight this harness racing season with a lifetime-best victory on Wednesday (Jul. 17) at Grand River Raceway.

The filly was pocketed early by Ultra Lady S (Dagfin Henriksen), but Travis Henry didn’t take long to send her back around to the lead at the quarter in :28.2. She trotted the half in :58.2 and managed another soft quarter, reaching the third station in 1:28.2 with No Need For Alarm (Scott Coulter) on the march first-up.

Mass Money rebuffed that opponent as they turned into the stretch and allowed only marginal gains from there, reaching home a winner in 1:58 by a length-and-a-quarter.

No Need For Alarm finished second, followed by Ultra Lady S (Dagfin Henriksen) from the pocket.

MASS MONEY REPLAY

Mass Money has finished no worse than second in eight outings this year with five wins. The Mark Etsell-trained filly sliced two second off her lifetime mark in Wednesday’s victory as she increased her earnings total to $43,620. Etsell co-owns the three-year-old with Robert Newton of Walkerton, Peter Porter of Port Dover, and Lindsey Turner of Georgetown.

Also on the card, Ken Middleton’s Bob Loblaw (Sunshine Beach) won his first race in more than two years in a romp. The five-year-old led all the way for driver Scott Coulter and stormed seven-and-a-half-lengths clear to win in 1:52.3.

BOB LOBLAW REPLAY

Middleton trains, co-owns, and bred the gelding, a former Ontario Sires Stakes champion with five wins and $256,237 in 21 career starts. Bob Loblaw made five prior attempts this year after not racing since May 2022. Dave Walls, James Grant, and Starting Centre Stables share ownership with Middleton.

Racing will continue at Grand River Raceway on Friday, Jul. 19 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink