Grand River: Elims occur for Battle of Waterloo, Battle of the Belles

Ontario-sired 2-year-old pacers competed in eliminations for the Battle of Waterloo (colts and geldings) and Battle of the Belles (fillies) on Monday evening at Grand River Raceway.

Trainer Bob McIntosh sent out both winners in the C$15,000 Battle of Waterloo elims, prevailing with Always A Thrill (Bob McClure) from the pocket in 1:57 2/5 and with Do Better (Sylvain Filion) in 1:56 after he took command past the opening quarter. Also advancing to next Monday's C$205,200 final were Max Patrick (Jody Jamieson), Chalk Hanover (McClure), McWicked Time (James MacDonald), Stopwatch (Doug McNair), Manhawk (MacDonald), Crush Kill Destroy (Tyler Borth) and Enforcer (McNair).

Always A Thrill and Do Better are Bettor's Delight geldings. Always A Thrill, who broke his maiden in his third try and has now earned C$14,430, is owned by McIntosh, Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables and was bred by McIntosh, C S X Stables and Mardon and Do Better, who is undefeated in four attempts and has pocketed C$78,550, is owned by McIntosh, Al McIntosh Holdings and Mardon Stables and was bred by the McIntoshes and C S X Stables. Always A Thrill paid $3.90 to win and Do Better returned $3.20 to win.

Driver Louis-Philippe Roy swept the C$10,000 Battle of the Belles eliminations, tallying with Collusion Hanover from first-up in 1:56 4/5 for trainer Luc Blais and with Dave Menary-trained Pass Line on the front-end in 1:55 3/5. The other horses who made the C$138,400 final on August 7 are Greatest Pleasure (J.R. Plante), Peeler (McClure), Cheese Party (Trevor Henry), Bonitas Best Bet (McNair), Pasta Delight (Jody Jamieson), How Much (McClure) and T H Jackies Legacy (Travis Cullen).

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Collusion Hanover is a daughter of Bettor's Delight, was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, and is owned by Determination, who paid $45,000 for her at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale. She has won half of her starts, has now banked C$19,242 and returned $6.90 to win. Pass Line, an All Bets Off filly, is a homebred for Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Pass Line has a record of 4-0-1 from five outings, has put away C$83,178 and paid $2.40 to win.

Here are the draws for the finals:

C$205,200 Battle of Waterloo

1-Max Patrick
2-Chalk Hanover
3-Do Better
4-McWicked Time
5-Always A Thrill
6-Stopwatch
7-Manhawk
8-Crush Kill Destroy
9-Enforcer

C$138,400 Battle of the Belles

1-Collusion Hanover
2-Greatest Pleasure
3-Peeler
4-Pass Line
5-Cheese Party
6-Bonitas Best Bet
7-Pasta Delight
8-How Much
9-T H Jackies Legacy