Grand River: Champions crowned in Battle Of Waterloo, Battle Of The Belles

Grand River Raceway played host to its annual Industry Day program on Monday afternoon, with Do Better winning the C$205,200 Battle Of Waterloo final for 2-year-old Ontario-sired pacing colts and geldings and Cheese Party taking the companion C$138,400 Battle Of The Belles final for fillies.

Max Patrick (Jody Jamieson) led the way through fractions of 27 and 56 4/5 for the opening-half in the Battle Of Waterloo, but Always A Thrill (Bob McClure) made a first-over move out of third going to the half that carried him into the lead prior to the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters. Following Always A Thrill's bid was fellow Bob McIntosh trainee Do Better (Sylvain Filion), and despite losing the cover when Always A Thrill cleared, Do Better would take charge on the outside on the last turn. From there, Do Better was able to edge away from his stablemate in the stretch to tally by a length and three-quarters in 1:54 3/5. Enforcer (Doug McNair) finished third.

"He's a very, very nice horse. I didn't want to get caught up in a speed duel. When I saw Bob on the outside, I thought he could be real good cover for me, which actually worked out pretty good," said Filion. "He's a kind of hyper horse, high-strung. Hopefully he'll have some more for next week."

Do Better, who is undefeated in five attempts and has pocketed C$181,150, is owned by McIntosh, Al McIntosh Holdings and Mardon Stables and was bred by the McIntoshes and C S X Stables. He paid $2.20 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

50-1 shot Cheese Party (Trevor Henry) had a second-over trip in the Battle Of The Belles, rallied into the lead in the stretch, and held on to win by a head in 1:56 3/5. 1-5 favorite Pass Line (James MacDonald) broke past the start, was able to recover and work out a fourth-over journey, and then closed in 28 4/5 while widest to just come up a head short, and Collusion Hanover (Louis-Philippe Roy), who led for most of the mile, had to settle for third.

"I was hoping to get a heck more or less, but at the start the favorite ran and then another one ran in the first turn. It kind of just set up for us," remarked Henry. "She's a very aggressive filly to drive. I was lucky enough to get cover from Doug, and I didn't want to move her as early as I did, but I was afraid I was going to choke her, so I moved her, and she responded."

Trainer Kyle Bossence also owns Cheese Party, a Betterthancheddar filly who was bred by Brad Gray. She broke her maiden in her fifth chance, sent her bankroll to C$82,525 and returned $103.20 to win.

"All the family was here and Trevor is my neighbor, so it couldn't have worked out any better," stated Bossence. "She's a real nice filly. She's just got a little bit to learn yet. She's real aggressive, but she's got a real good brush for a piece, so it's just a matter of containing her until the last quarter."

Two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series races for 3-year-old filly pacers also took place on the card. McIntosh would win the first C$100,400 grouping with Favorite Beach (by Sunshine Beach, bred by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc., owned by the McIntoshes and Mardon Stables, and driven by James MacDonald) in 1:53 3/5, and the second C$101,300 split was taken by One Last Wish (by Bettor's Delight and bred by owners Brian Legge and Dr. David Legge), in 1:53 1/5 for Paul MacDonell and Ken Sucee.