Embrace The Grind upsets in monster effort

Embrace The Grind (Keystone Activator) raced giant and won the $25,000 Open Handicap Trot at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday night, February 7, 2023.

7-1 Embrace The Grind with driver Tony Morgan sprinted quickly off the gate and took early command of the racetrack. Northern Express left and was able to secure the pocket trip.

The even odds, betting favorite JL Cruze (Art Stafford, Jr), could not find a seat into the first turn and was parked the entire mile.

Embrace the Grind took control of the racetrack and set a wicked opening quarter of :26.4. The half mile was trotted in :55.2, a :28.3 quarter.

Hillexotic moved off the pylons past the 3/8ths pole and caught the second over cover from a parked-out JL Cruze.

JL Cruze began to weaken midway down the backstretch. Hillexotic vacated his second over position and circled three-wide in pursuit of a confident Embrace The Grind. The three quarters were reached in 1:24 flat, a :28.3 quarter.

Embrace The Grind remained loose on the lead into the lane. Northern Express tried in vain to catch the leader along the pylons. Fifty Ways found his best stride late, however both trotters were unable to reel in Embrace The Grind.

Embrace the Grind won by two lengths and trotted the mile in 1:53.1.  He paid $17.20 for the win.

EMBRACE THE GRIND REPLAY

Embrace The Grind is owned and trained by A. Bobby Glassmeyer of Dover, Delaware. Fifty Ways, who went off at long odds, closed to be second for trainer Joe Columbo. Mike Cole drove. Northern Express picked up the show spot for trainer Arty Foster Jr. Russell Foster drove.

Race favorite JL Cruze finished last.

Tony Morgan picked up a driving triple on the betting card.

In the last race, Cash Hudson paid $133.20 and set up a $24,449 trifecta payout. The pentafecta payout returned $10,392.

There will be a pick 4 carryover of $4,368 going to Wednesday’s racing card at Bally’s Dover.

For complete race results, click here.

by Alex Kraszewski, for Bally’s Dover