Battle Elims in the books
Coleman Sittin’ Pretty After Battle Eliminations at Grand River Raceway
ELORA, ON — Elimination races for Grand River Raceway’s 24th annual Industry Day event were contested this evening, July 28.
A total of five elimination dashes were featured for two stake events: the $217,000 Battle Of Waterloo (ON-sired two-year-old pacing colts) and the $138,000 Battle Of The Belles (ON-sired two-year-old pacing fillies).
Both stake finals will be featured during the 11-race afternoon card valued at more than $560,000 on Monday, August 4.
It was a big night for local trainer Casie Coleman of Cambridge, ON, who secured two hopefuls in the Battle Of The Belles, and four colts in the Battle Of Waterloo. In addition, finalists sired by her powerhouse stallion Sportswriter account for five of the nine starters in each race.
At just 33, Coleman is a five-time winner of the O’Brien Award for Canadian Trainer Of The Year. She has already won many of harness racing’s biggest races, but is still chasing her first victory in the Battle Of Waterloo.
BATTLE OF THE BELLES
Solar Sister secured the first of two spots in the final for the race’s 2013 winning trainer, Gregg McNair of Guelph, ON. The 1:58 score in the first division marked the Mach Three filly’s maiden win. Doug McNair piloted the regally-bred daughter of millionaire pacer Cabrini Hanover from post seven for owners David Willmot and Clay Harland Horner.
Jody Jamieson and Win The Gold closed well to finish second for trainer Tony O’Sullivan. Shes Dignified was third, securing a spot in the final for trainer Stephen Gillard and driver Stuart Sowerby. The pair won the 2011 edition of the Battle Of The Belles with another homebred, Your Beautiful. The filly’s sire, Your Nemesis was the winner of the second edition of the Battle Of Waterloo in 1999.
McNair secured a second spot in the Belles final with Betty And The Jets, who finished second to Southwind Mischief for trainer Casie Coleman and driver Chris Christoforou. Leaving from the outside post eight, the 5-1 shot powered down the stretch to finish a quarter length the best over Betty And The Jets and Sassafras Girl, trained by Murray Brethour and driven by Rick Zeron.
Sportswriter daughters swept the third and final division where Sports Chic didn’t disappoint as the 7-5 favourite for trainer and co-owner Blake MacIntosh. A $35,000 yearling, the miss has amassed $70,000 and three wins in four starts. Jody Jamieson was aboard for the 1:57 mile – the quickest elimination clocking on an unusually chilly summer eve.
Business As Usual was three lengths behind to finish in the runner-up spot with Chris Christoforou for Coleman. Capela rounded out the top three for trainer Linda Toscano and reinsman John Campbell.
BATTLE OF WATERLOO
Carl Jamieson is a five-time winner of the Battle Of Waterloo, including the inaugural edition in 1998. His race favourite in the first division of the Battle Of Waterloo, Sporting The Look, recorded his second win in three starts. Purchased as a yearling for $72,000, the colt was driven by three-time Battle Of Waterloo winning driver Jody Jamieson.
Go Daddy Go, driven by John Campbell for Robert McIntosh was the runner-up, followed by Casie Coleman pupils Southwind Indy and Mikes Powerhouse. Fifth-place finisher Win One Soon drew into the final field during the post position draw conducted after the final elimination division.
Sportskeeper and Jody Jamieson wired the field in the second division to win by two lengths for Coleman and co-owner Merlin Howse. The homebred colt is unbeaten in two career starts. Sports Bettor was the runner-up for local trainer Mark Austin of Fergus, ON. Race favourite Bob Ben And John overcame traffic troubles and an outside post to finish third for Coleman.
A double-placing in the second division ultimately gave Supersonic Jet the final berth in the Battle Of Waterloo. The Jeremes Jet son is trained by Dr. Ian Moore, winning trainer of the 2009 edition of the race.
The placings unfolded when Seaforth (#2) went off-stride approaching the quarter and made a brief break, but enough to interfere with Supersonic Jet (#5) which resulted in the placing of #2 behind #5. In addition, Robert Hill (#3) made a break on the first turn and caused interference to #2 and was placed behind #2. Because of the double placings, #5 who finished 6th was placed up to 5th as a result of the first placing, then to 4th as a result of the second placing.
The sixth annual Battle Of The Belles and 17th annual Battle Of Waterloo will be contested during Industry Day at Grand River Raceway on Monday, August 4. Post time for race one is 1:30 p.m.
For complete event details, visit www.IndustryDayCelebration.com
Post position draws for both stake races were conducted on July 28. The following are the fields for the finals on Industry Day:
POST POSITIONS FOR THE $217,000 BATTLE OF WATERLOO
1. Southwind Indy Casie Coleman Chris Christoforou
2. Supersonic Jet Dr. Ian Moore Paul MacKenzie
3. Bob Ben And John Casie Coleman Chris Christoforou
4. Sporting The Look Carl Jamieson Jody Jamieson
5. Mikes Powerhouse Casie Coleman Trevor Henry
6. Win One Soon Ken Fritsch Phil Hudon
7. Go Daddy Go Robert McIntosh John Campbell
8. Sportskeeper Casie Coleman Jody Jamieson
9. Sports Bettor Mark Austin Trevor Henry
POST POSITIONS FOR THE $138,000 BATTLE OF THE BELLES
1. Business As Usual Casie Coleman Chris Christoforou
2. Win The Gold Tony O’Sullivan Jody Jamieson
3. Capela Linda Toscano John Campbell
4. Betty And The Jets Gregg McNair Jody Jamieson
5. Sassafras Girl Murray Brethour Rick Zeron
6. Sports Chic Blake MacIntosh Jody Jamieson
7. Southwind Mischief Casie Coleman Chris Christoforou
8. Shes Dignified Stephen Gillard Stuart Sowerby
9. Solar Sister Gregg McNair Doug McNair