A four-year-old rookie achieved his third consecutive victory at Flamboro Downs on December 18, marking the 11th win of his debut season. Granite Beach, the gelding, started strong from post four, taking the lead early and reaching the quarter mark in 27.4 seconds. He maintained his pace to the half, clocking in at 57.4 seconds. As they approached three-quarters, Granite Beach and the competitor in the second position, Royal Jk, increased their lead, hitting the three-quarter mark in 1:26.2.
Royal Jk attempted to catch up during the final stretch, while House Edge Hanover surged into contention in the last eighth of a mile. Despite House Edge Hanover’s strong finish along the pylons, Granite Beach managed to hold on, winning by a narrow head with a final time of 1:56.3. House Edge Hanover secured second place, with Royal Jk finishing a close third.
With this victory, Granite Beach's lifetime record improved to 11 wins out of 25 races, accumulating earnings of $49,288. The gelding is trained by Jodie Cullen for owner Grace Marshman from Campbellcroft, alongside the A1 stable of Dundas. Notably, this win contributed to Cullen’s successful night, as she also celebrated victories with two other horses, achieving a personal best of 227 wins this season, leading the Canadian trainers by a substantial margin. The next event at Flamboro Downs is set for Thursday, December 19, beginning at 6:35 p.m. EST.