ELORA, Ont., Sept. 27, 2024 – Four $15,000 Prospect Series Finals for three-year-olds were held at Grand River Raceway Friday.
Here’s a look at how each went.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
First-over challenger Shetrotsalot and driver Scott Young won a brief duel with pace-setter Sue Anne (driven by Samuel Fillion) on the final turn, drawing away down the stretch for a three-length victory. Fractions were :27.2/:57/1:26.3/1:57.1.
It was the fourth career win for Shetrotsalot and her first in the Prospect Series.
Originally sold under the name Tymal Maura, Shetrotsalot (p, 3, 1:55.2; $57,872) sold for $70,000 as a 2022 Harrisburg yearling. The daughter of Muscle Mass–Angostura was bred by Tymal Farms of Oldcastle, Ont. She’s owned by Keith Coulter of Mono, Ont., and trained by Paul Walker.
Young’s one Friday night drive at Grand River was his only win, as he departed for Woodbine Mohawk Park after Race 2 for the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Consolations.
Favourite Shetrotsalot returned $2.90 to win.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Wheres My Phone left aggressively for Travis Henry and led to three-quarters, finally giving way in the stretch after the three-wide late rally by win-streaking favourite Cheese Party (Austin Sorrie). Fractions were :27.2/:56/1:25.0/1:53.4. Wheres My Phone finished one-third of a length behind the winner.
The 2023 Battle of the Belles champion was driven to her sixth lifetime victory by Sorrie, who was also aboard for her 2024 Prospect Series wins Sept. 11 at Grand River and Aug. 23 at Kawartha Downs. The daughter of Betterthancheddar–Tea Party Princess is owned and trained by Kyle Bossence of Arthur, Ont., and was bred by Brad Gray of Dundas, Ont.
Favourite Cheese Party (p, 3, 1:51.4; $134,555) paid $2.50 to win.
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings
Onyx Bovino and driver J Bradley Harris waited out an early front-end battle, settling behind the early speed before stepping out past the half. Their third-over trip along the backstretch paid off after first-over Larjon Levi (Samuel Fillion) put away leader Lamborghini Lou (Paul MacKenzie) past three-quarters. With earplugs pulled, Onyx Bovino hunted down Larjon Levi in the stretch, pulling ahead by a half-length at the wire.
Fractions were :26.3/ :54.3/1:23.3/1:52.1.
The homebred gelding is owned by Glenview Livestock Ltd., of Ingersoll, Ont., and trained by Lacey McCabe.
The Prospect final was his fifth 2024 win and eighth lifetime. Onyx Bovino (p, 3, 1:52.1; $52,909) is by Bettors Delight, out of the late Lady Terror.
Onyx Bovino paid $19 for the lifetime-best win.
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings
Wheelzablazin and driver Jason Ryan dominated on the front end for the gelding’s tenth seasonal victory, shrugging off early challengers Buttinski (Todd Ratchford) and Lockdown Romeo (Bruce Richardson) before the quarter pole.
Buttinski stepped out first-over along the backstretch for another try, but couldn’t clear Wheelzablazin. Pocket-sitting Lockdown Romeo’s late bid was good enough for place. Fractions were :28.3/1:00.0/1:29.1/1:58.1.
Rebounding from a rare off-the-board result in a Sept. 12 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Wheelzablazin (p, 3, 1:57.1; $69,674) had captured his previous three Prospect Series legs: Aug. 26 at Grand River; Aug. 19 and June 2 at Georgian Downs.
The Wheeling N Dealin–Blazing Shot gelding is owned by Arnolds Horse Shack of Mississauga, Ont., and trained by Paul Cameron. He was bred by Tom Gallant of Caledon East, Ont.
Favourite Wheelzablazin returned $2.80 to win.
FEATURED PHOTO: Cheese Party winning a race at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Aug. 16, 2024 (Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
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