Grand River Raceway’s 36th edition of Battle of Waterloo saw Beau Jangles victorious

ELORA, ON (August 4, 2025) – Records came down and cheers went up from the crowd as Grand River Raceway hosted its annual Industry Day on Monday, August 4. An all-age record for the Elora, ON five-eighth-mile track was set in one of two blazing Ontario Sires Stakes Gold leg #3 divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, while a pair of standout Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacers stamped their names into Battle of the Belles and Battle of Waterloo history. 

Undefeated Beau Jangles established a new divisional track record for 2-year-old male pacers in the fastest-ever Battle of Waterloo. The Cattlewash cold put up scorching times winning the race in 1:51. 

The $227,100 Battle of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farm, final went forward with a field of eight colts and geldings, no eliminations required. Beau Jangles and driver Bob McClure left aggressively, with Tilthecowscomehome (Jody Jamieson) and three-wide D A Lets Dance (Doug McNair) to his outside, as Borderline Mobby (James MacDonald) sat fourth behind them. McNair’s 51/1 longshot made front before the 26.3 opening quarter, but quickly faced first-over pressure from Titlthecowscomehome, shadowed by second-over 2/5 favourite Beau Jangles, who made front after a brief three-wide move.  

Tiffany Chantel Photography

Beau Jangles led to the half in 54.4, keeping just ahead of Tilthecowscomehome as No Waitlist (Jordan Stratton) brushed into first-over third along the backstretch. He maintained a length and a half lead at three-quarters, which he reached in 1:23.3. No Waitlist backed down on the final turn, while Tilthecowscomehome gained ground down the stretch but could not catch McClure’s powerful 1:51f winner. Dax Seelster (Trevor Henry) closed well for show. Bob McClure also praised Beau Jangles in the winners’ circle.  

“I don’t think I’ve come into a Grand Circuit race with the confidence that I had in this guy. You know, he really hasn’t even been tested yet. In his very first start, I took it easy on him, not knowing where the bottom was. I turned it into a bit of a sprint and he outsprinted them home. In his second start, he had to really work to get there, and it almost played in his favour: He’s so big and strong that he just drove away from them.” 

Undefeated Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill colt Beau Jangles is trained by Dr. Ian Moore, is owned by Graham Grace Stables Llc of Clifton, VA; Kiwi Stables Llc of La Plata, MD; and Bolton Stables of Clermont, FL and and was bred by Tara Hills Stud Ltd. of Port Perry, ON. 

The $153,000 Battle of the Belles final saw a dominate performance from 3/2 favourite Daya and driver Jody Jamieson. The Jack Darling trainee was sent by Jamieson sent to challenge the leader near the 54.4 half, and she opened up by more than four lengths before three-quarters, which she reached all alone in 1:22.1. Lavender Seelster (Paul MacKenzie) edged out TH Check Me Out for place, both well behind the 1:50.4f winner.  

Tiffany Chantel Photography

Daya (p,2,1;50.4f; $127,600) lowered Romantic Beauty’s 1:52.2f track record for 2-year-old filly pacers, set in that rival’s Battle of the Belles elimination. The homebred daughter of Bulldog Hanover-Beach Of A Time is owned by Jack Darling Stables Ltd. She has won 3 of 4 seasonal starts, finishing second in OSS Gold leg #2 at Mohawk July 17 before rebounding to win her July 28 Battle of the Belles elim in 1:53.3f.  

Afterward, Jody Jamieson gave full credit to Daya for the dominating performance.  

“Well, I don’t think that anybody expects a 1:50.4 mile at any time from a 2-year-old pacing filly, at any point in the year, really. Obviously they go fast—they’re going faster and faster earlier each year—but it’s pretty hard to expect. I moved her here, in front of the grandstand, just to make sure that I was in no trouble, and I just let her pace, and holy crap did she ever pace…1:22.1 [to three-quarters] and I never spoke to her the rest of the way. I just kept her pacing to the wire….She’s a special filly and Jack’s believed in her all the way.”   

Race 6 saw a new track and Canadian record set in the $90,000 OSS Gold leg #3. A field of five 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings went behind the gate, with Tyler Borth sending Control Rocks straight to the front from the outside post and opening up by three lengths before the 26.3 opening quarter. Crack Shot and driver Doug McNair sat the loose pocket behind Control Rocks to the 54.4 half, as Bob McClure asked Set Shot to step out first-over at that point. Set Shot continued to gain ground along the backstretch, with second-over Aquinas Hanover (Jody Jamieson) in pursuit. Control Rocks led to three-quarters in 1:22.2, and held off a quick-closing 2/5 favourite Crack Shot, who was second by just a head at the wire. Docs Buddy (Louis-Philippe Roy) was three and a half lengths back, closing for show.  

Control Rocks’ final time for the mile was 1:49.4f, establishing a new overall track record in Grand River Raceway’s first-ever sub-1:50 performance. The 3-year-old gelding is by Control The Moment, out of Katie Rocks, and is owned by Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge, ON. Control Rocks was a $33,000 yearling at the 2023 London Classic Sale. 

Race 9 was the second division of OSS Gold 3-year-old male pacers. Sterling Choice sprinted to early command for driver Billy Davis Jr., just ahead of SOS Sports Bet (Doug McNair) and Tip Of Time (Jody Jamieson) at the 25.4 opening quarter. The grey maintained a lead of over two lengths at the half, reached in 54 flat, but 1/9 favourite Allstar Maniac and driver James MacDonald were advancing first-over from fourth on the backstretch.  

Allstar Maniac drew alongside the pacesetter at three-quarters, reached in an eye-catching 1:21.3, and the two squared off for the stretch drive. MacDonald’s horse reached for the finish, pulling away late by a half-length to take the win in 1:49f. Sterling Choice was a game second, ahead of show finisher SOS Sports Bet.  

A timing error led to the winner originally being credited with a 1:50f mile, rather than setting a new record for 3-year-olds and equalling the all-age, all-time Canadian record for pacers on a five-eight-mile track, now shared by Allstar Maniac with Tattoo Artist and Bigtime Ball.  

Allstar Maniac (p,3,1:49f; $220,784) is a gelded son of All Bets Off-Shes A Maniac, bred by Allstar Farms of Millbank, ON and sold as a London Classic yearling for $70,000. Now owned by Millar Farms of Stouffville, ON, he found his winning stride on July 19 at Mohawk, starting a three-race win streak for trainer Nick Gallucci. The gelding was second in his 2024 Battle of Waterloo elimination, ending up sixth in the final. 

Handle for the 11-race card was $492,416. 

 Written with help from Melissa Keith.

Photo credits (photos attached and names of each photo listed below):

race 11 and race10 = Tiffany Chantel Photography

BOW Beau Jangles (main image) = Dave Landry