Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

$350,000 Messenger Stake won by Gryffindor

Monday, October 17, 2005

Gryffindor (4-5) pulled first up at the :27.4 first quarter and never looked back, staving off bids by Cam's Fool (1-1) and Dawn Ofa New Day (10-1) to win the Messenger Final Heat in 1:52.4. The three-year-old bay Dragon Again gelding was driven by David Miller for trainer Brendan Johnson. Dawn Ofa New Day finished second but was disqualified and placed third for interferrence to Speed Demon, who was moved up to second from third.

"This horse was very fast tonight," winning driver David Miller said. "Winning this race (it was Miller's fourth Messenger win), is always exciting."

Gryffindor is owned by Three Point Acres, a group of amatuer basketball players.

Gryffindor captured the first elimination of the $350,000 Messenger Stake at Harrington Raceway in Delaware. The three-year-old paced the mile in 1:52 for driver David Miller in near wire-to-wire fashion, drawing away from rivals Speed Demon and Beretta Hall. The time is a new track record for a three-year-old colt pacer.

"This horse came into this race in fine shape and is great around a half-mile track," driver David Miller said. "I tried to race him as easy I could, but that's not easy to do in today's racing world. As a driver you always want to try to save something for another heat."

Cam's Fool captured the second division in 1:55.4, using a :26.4 final quarter sprint to win over the hard-closing Weiss Hanover. Cam's Fool got away with ridiculously slow fractions through the first three quarters before being challenged by Weiss Hanover, who took the two-hole spot to garner a starting slot in the final.

"I was actually shocked going to the quarter as I didn't know we were going that slow, but if you can get away with it, you ought to take advantage of it," driver Brian Sears said. "The horse is really sharp and hopefully we'll get a good draw in the final."

The Cane Pace is the first leg of pacing’s Triple Crown, followed by the Little Brown Jug and Messenger. Metropolitan won last year’s Messenger, a result that ended up spoiling Timesareachanging’s Triple Crown hopes, in a (then) track record 1:52.2. The victory gave driver John Campbell his eighth Messenger title, moving him past Billy Haughton into sole possession of the record for most wins in the race’s history.

Messenger Stakes
October 17, 2005 at Harrington Raceway
$218,475 Final Heat
PP Horse                 Driver
2 Gryffindor                 David Mliler
6 Speed Demon           Jim Morand
1 Dawn Ofa New Day    Pierce
3 Cam's Fool                Brian Sears
4 Weiss Hanover           G Brennan
5 Beretta Hall                Pat Lachance
8 Revolutionary Foe       C Manzi
7 Load The Dice            M Lachance
:27.4 :57.1 1:25.1 1:52.4

5th Race: $72,825 1st Div
PP Horse                     Driver
4 Gryffindor                  David Miller
3 Speed Demon             Jim Morand
1 Dawn Ofa New Day      Miller
5 Beretta Hall                Mike Lachance
:27.1 :55.2 1:24.4 1:52

6th Race: $72,825 2nd Div
PP Horse                Driver
4 Cam's Fool            Brian Sears
2 Weiss Hanover      G Brennan
1 Load The Dice       M Lachance
3 Revolutionary Foe C Manzi
:29.1 :59.3 1:29 1:55.4