Grit N Grace (Im The Pied Piper) shattered the harness racing track record at The Loop during the first leg of the Silk Lace for Manitoba-sired three-year-old fillies on Saturday (Aug. 17). Grit N Grace took command early from post two and set brisk fractions of :28.2 and :59.1. Choozetocruise (Glen Le Drew) mounted a challenge first-over nearing three-quarters, but Grit N Grace held firm and paced home to win by 1-3/4 lengths in a track record time of 1:59.4.
This time marks the first sub-2:00 mile ever clocked by a three-year-old at The Loop. Choozetocruise had previously tied the record of 2:00 set by Westward Angels just a week earlier. Chasin Rainbows (Blake Piwniuk) managed to edge out Choozetocruise for second place in the stretch.
Grit N Grace is currently on a four-race winning streak, with recent victories in the Lady Crocus and MSSBA Futurity. The filly, owned, trained, and bred by Lorraine Rey of St. Claude, has now earned $16,798 in her career.
Lookinlikeamillion (Armbro Baylor) battled to victory in the first leg of the Golden Boy for Manitoba-sired three-year-old colts and geldings. Richard Remillard guided the gelding into the pocket behind Cartoon Kid (Marc Fillion) through a :30.3 first quarter. The two rivals exchanged leads and challenged each other throughout the final lap, but Lookinlikeamillion surged back in the stretch to win by a half-length in 2:02.4. Cartoon Kid finished second, with Tough Crowd (Don Howlett) taking third.
This victory marks Lookinlikeamillion’s fourth lifetime win in nine starts. Trained by Tara Isman, the gelding is co-owned by Dr. Valerie Isman, George Isman, and Garett Isman.
Armycaptin Hanover (Captaintreacherous) took control in the afternoon’s Open for trainer Michel Rey. The gelding led wire-to-wire, stopping the clock in 2:00.4 for his 10th win in 20 starts this year. Chazmichaelmichael (Remillard) finished second, with Litizor (Howlett) in third. Armycaptin Hanover, owned by Laverne Turnbull, has now amassed 46 wins in 156 starts and earned $322,726 in his career.
Racing at The Loop will continue on Saturday, Aug. 24.