Storm The Beach ($5) wore down the pacesetting Tero to earn his first Canadian victory in one of three $7,500 Preferred 3 pacing events co-featured at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday night (June 22).
Moving off the the WEG circuit after being claimed two starts back for $18,000, the Richard Moreau trainee was the 3-2 favourite in his Grand River debut and didn't disappoint his backers.
Inside starter Tero retook the lead from the quick-leaving Stoney Durkin through a :27.4 first quarter before driver Alfie Carroll sent Storm The Beach first over from mid-pack in fourth. The six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding loomed outside while Tero carved out :56.4 and 1:25.2 middle splits on top. Down the stretch, Stoney Durkin closed inside of Tero, but Storm The Beach surged in deep stretch to prevail in the close finish. Storm The Beach defeated Tero by a head in 1:55.1, with Stoney Durkin one length behind in third.
Storm The Beach, who came up just a head short in his last start at Mohawk off the claim, is currently owned by Jason Sgrignuoli of Dorval, Que. The win was his third this year from 16 starts this year following a winless 2015 campaign. Lifetime, he now has 14 victories to his credit, including a career-best 1:50.2 mile over The Meadowlands in December of his four-year-old season, and over $192,000 in purses.
In another Preferred division for the horses and geldings, favourite Saulsbrook Peach ($3.50) romped to a four-length victory in 1:55.1. Paul MacKenzie drove the seven-year-old Royal Mattjesty gelding to his fifth win of the year for trainer Isabelle Darveau and owner Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel, Que.
Driven by Phil Hudon, T R Lexus Cam ($12) moved from fourth at the half in the fillies and mares pace and collared the front-striding Katherine B at the finish line in 1:57.1 while pocket-sitter Doo Wee Rusty came within half a length through the passing lane for third prize. The five-year-old daughter of Cams Memory now boasts top-two finishes in her four starts since being claimed for $7,500 at Western Fair Raceway by trainer Ken Pollard of Ilderton, Ont. and Patrick McIlhargey of London, Ont.