Grand River: Big Big Plans best in Battle of the Belles final

Big Big Plans overcame getting bothered in the pocket on the last turn and was able to rally in the stretch to win the C$155,000 Battle of the Belles final for Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacing fillies on Monday afternoon at Grand River Raceway in 1:56 4/5.

Driven by Trevor Henry, Big Big Plans blasted to the front from post five but gave way to sit in the pocket behind a brushing Shake It Twice (Doug McNair) after the 27 2/5 opening quarter. Shake It Twice would go on to hit the half in 56 3/5, with Blue Glamber (Jonathan Drury) going first-over out of fourth and giving a second-over trip to fellow Jodie Cullen trainee Glenboro (Travis Cullen).

Cullen would send Glenboro three-wide on the way to the 1:27 1/5 three-quarters and joined Shake It Twice, then overtook her on the last turn. Meanwhile, Big Big Plans lost ground in the two-hole on the bend as she got interfered with by the fading Blue Glamber. Henry was able to urge Big Big Plans on to get by Blue Glamber, though, then went two-wide before they turned for home.

Glenboro turned into the lane first and had the jump on Big Big Plans, but Big Big Plans had more pace in the stretch and was able to surge by for a half-length victory. Brynley Seelster (Jody Jamieson), Shake It Twice, and Western Flames (Sylvain Filion) completed the top five.

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"She's kind of green on the front, and when Dougie came with the other co-favorite, I wasn't too concerned about letting him go because she is better off a helmet," said Henry. "On the other hand, you never know what's going to happen, but it all just worked out in the end."

A filly from the first crop of All Bets Off and out of the Ponder mare Somethinincredible, Big Big Plans was bred by trainer Bob McIntosh in parternship with C S X Stables and Dave Boyle and is now owned by McIntosh, Mardon Stables, and Boyle. Big Big Plans has four wins and a third from five lifetime tries, pushed her earnings to C$186,620, and paid $4.30 to win.