New record at Grand River Raceway

Woodmere Rollnpop, a 33-1 long shot, made history at Grand River Raceway on Monday (June 10) by setting a new track record on the freshly laid five-eighths mile oval. In a surprising upset victory in the Preferred-2 race, the gelding, piloted by Travis Henry, stunned the field with a sensational performance.

Initially positioned fifth, Woodmere Rollnpop patiently bided his time under Travis Henry's guidance, pacing through swift fractions of :26.1 and :53.4 for the first half of the race. As the field approached the backstretch, he maneuvered into a second-over position, maintaining his cover through three-quarters in 1:22.1. As they turned for home, Woodmere Rollnpop unleashed a powerful surge, pulling three-wide and accelerating past his rivals with remarkable speed. With an impressive display of strength, he crossed the finish line in 1:51.2, clearing his competitors by two lengths and establishing a new track record.

This remarkable victory marked a career-best time for Woodmere Rollnpop, elevating his lifetime earnings to $177,702 in 130 career starts. Trained by Garry Merner and owned by Andrea Leon of Maidstone, the seven-year-old gelding's triumph showcased his talent and resilience on the track.

Additionally, several other horses displayed their affinity for the track's new configuration by ending long losing streaks during the card. Miss M A K, a six-year-old mare piloted by Austin Sorrie and trained by Joe Pereira, secured her first win in 54 starts since July 2022, setting a new mark with a time of 1:57.3. Southwind Caesar, a six-year-old gelding trained by Jodie Cullen, also found success, reaching the winner's circle for the first time in 69 starts since September 2022, with a time of 1:59.1.

Austin Sorrie emerged as the evening's top driver, securing three wins throughout the card, further highlighting the night's excitement and memorable performances at Grand River Raceway.