Willowtime (Lookslikeachpndale) showcased exceptional talent over his rivals in the first $95,500 division for three-year-old trotting males at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday (Aug. 14). With Bob McClure at the reins, the colt established an early lead, completing the first quarter in a swift :27 and maintaining a strong pace to the halfway mark in :57.1 without facing any challengers. As the race progressed, What About Elmo (Tyler Jones) attempted to mount a challenge from first over but failed to influence the outcome. Willowtime reached three-quarters in 1:25.2, expanding his lead to three-and-a-half lengths. He continued to pull away around the final turn, ultimately winning by three lengths in a time of 1:55.2. Captain Wania (Trevor Henry) secured second place in a nail-biting finish over Fabulous Freddie (Chris Christoforou).
Willowtime, a reigning Ontario Sires Stakes champion, entered the race winless for the year but has since improved his record to five wins in 14 starts, bringing his lifetime earnings to $469,147. He is trained by Mark Etsell and co-owned by Terry Devos of Langton and Peter Porter of Port Dover.
In the second division, Paquet (Muscle Mass) displayed his impressive skills by winning in only his second-lifetime start. After starting in seventh place, he remained there until halfway down the backstretch before Jody Jamieson skillfully guided him to the widest path as they rounded the final turn. Paquet surged to the front to secure a two-length victory in 1:54. Northern Looker (Chris Christoforou), a surprising 25-1 shot, finished second after a strong three-wide effort around the turn, while Myretirementdream (Scott Young) rounded out the top three.
Trained by Carl Jamieson, Paquet had previously won his debut by an impressive 10 lengths before taking a break of four-and-a-half months, only to return successfully a week ago. Now perfect in two outings, he has earned $56,000 for his connections, which include the Estate of Brian Paquet, 1140545 Ontario Ltd., and Doug Good.
In addition to the thrilling races, Bob McClure had a noteworthy night, achieving a grand slam with three wins, showcasing his driving prowess.
The three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will compete in their final preliminary Gold leg on September 30. Upcoming racing at Grand River Raceway will continue on Friday, August 16, at 6:30 p.m. EDT.