Eliminations will go for both of Grand River Raceway’s marquee events for Ontario-sired two-year-olds after the names of 11 pacing colts were dropped into the box for the Battle of Waterloo, presented by Winbak Farm, and 12 pacing fillies were entered for the Battle of the Belles.
A total of four eliminations – two for the Battle of Waterloo and two for the Battle of the Belles – will go to the gate on Monday, July 31. First-race post time is set for 6:30 p.m. (EDT).
Both $15,000 Battle of Waterloo eliminations will be contested over consecutive races that evening (races seven and eight).
The first elimination gathers five, including post four starter Manhawk, a Scott McEneny pupil, who is the lone winner in this field after taking a mark of 1:58.2 in his pari-mutuel debut on June 27 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Among the contenders joining that son of Stag Party will be Crush Kill Destroy, trained by Per Engblom, and Max Patrick, trained by Gabriella Sasso, who are both coming out of back-to-back Ontario Sires Stakes Gold legs at Mohawk.
The second elimination, with six aligning, is headlined by Do Better, who is a perfect three-for-three to start his career, including a 1:51.3 score in his most recent try, in an OSS Gold leg at Mohawk. The son of Bettors Delight is sent out by owner/breeder/trainer Bob McIntosh and has drawn the outermost post.
The $10,000 eliminations for the Battle of the Belles will take place earlier on the card (races three and four), and will have an even split of six in each division.
The first elimination will be headlined by a daughter of McWicked, Wicked Weather, who is coming off a dominant, maiden-breaking score at Mohawk on July 25, in a clocking of 1:53.3. The Anthony Beaton trainee will start from the inside. Among the contenders joining her will be a pair of fillies trained by Dave Menary, How Much and Bonitas Best Bet, who have combined for three wins in six starts this season. Both hold identical marks of 1:55.4.
The second elimination also contains a pair of Menary trainees, headlined by Pass Line. The daughter of All Bets Off has three wins in four tries this season, including a win in an OSS Gold on June 11, in a clocking of 1:51.4, which is a national season’s mark for two-year-old pacing fillies. She will start from post position three.
For the two Battle of Waterloo eliminations, the top four finishers will advance to the $235,200 final with a fifth-place finisher drawn by lot. Both of the Battle of the Belles eliminations will follow the same format, with the top four finishers advancing to the $158,400 final, and the fifth-place finisher drawn by lot. The winner of each elimination earns a guaranteed draw between posts one and five for their respective finals. The 34th edition of Industry Day will take place on Monday, Aug 7.
To view Monday's complete harness racing entries, click the following link: Monday Entries - Grand River Raceway
(With files from Grand River Raceway)