Warrawee Needy set the bar high with his 1:53.3 winning effort in the first freshmen elimination, which lowered the stakes and track record. The time of the mile lowered Sir Luck and Nebupanezzar’s record for two-year-old male pacers by one-fifth of a second.

Rebounding from his only career loss, a third place finish in the Battle Of Waterloo, Warrawee Needy sat third through early fractions of :27.1 and :57.1 before Jody Jamieson sent the son of E Dees Cam-Great Memories to the top. He opened up a four length lead on the field by the next marker of 1:25.2 and continued to pour it on down the stretch, hitting the wire with a nine length margin of victory. Longshot Fenian Hanover (Jack Moiseyev) came in second with third place finisher Aslan (Paul MacKenzie) 19 lengths in arrears.

Trainer Carl Jamieson co-owns the career winner of $251,000, who swept the first two Gold Series events, with Thomas Kyron of Toronto, Ont., Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood, Ont., and Floyd Marshall of Jarvis, Ont. He paid $2.10 to win as the heavy favourite.

Bob McIntosh trainee I Found My Beach and driver Randy Waples upset Battle Of Waterloo champion Machapelo (Scott Zeron), who carved out fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.2, in the next elimination and missed Warrawee Needy’s record by one-fifth of a second. I Found My Beach rallied three-wide off cover and wore down the pacesetter to score by half a length. Longshot Addwater (J.R. Plante) finished over 10 lengths behind in third.

The son of Mach Three-Ohio Annie, now two-for-three in his young career, is owned by the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, Ont. and Robert Kauffman of New Albany, Ohio. He paid $8 as the 3-1 third choice.

Moving up to the Gold level, Hard To Mach claimed the final elimination, winning by seven and a half lengths in 1:55 for driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Maurice Goldschmidt.

Orse Power (Jack Moiseyev) and favourite Czar Seelster (Jody Jamieson) took turns on the front during a :28 opening quarter before MacDonald sent Hard To Mach to the top. The son of Mach Three-Angel In Disguise cleared the lead during the second interval but gave way to Rocky Regal (Jason Brewer), who powered up from fifth and hit the half in :56.2. MacDonald sent his charge back out for the retake and after hitting three-quarters in 1:25, he took off from the field for the open length triumph. Winbak Warrior (James MacDonald) finished second and Noble Andrew (Chris Christoforou) recovered from an early break to get third.

Hard To Mach is now two-for-three in his career with $34,500 earned for owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin of Lexington, Michigan. He paid $6.80 to win as the 2-1 second choice.

Here is a look at the field for next Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final:

1. Noble Andrew
2. Addwater
3. Machapelo
4. I Found My Beach
5. Hard To Mach
6. Winbak Warrior
7. Aslan
8. Warrawee Needy
9. Fenian Hanover
AE1. Jigger And Abit
AE2. Caddy Jeff
AE3. Rocky Regal

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)

To view the videos for the seven yearlings, visit the Canadian Yearling Page.

The Jeff Gillis pupil captured his third victory in 10 starts this year while lowering his lifetime mark to 1:49.2.

Mystician and driver Jody Jamieson took the sophomores to the opening quarter in :27. Sent off at odds of 3-5, elimination winner Twin B Legend (Paul MacDonell) came first-up from third, cleared before the half in :54.2, and held the front past the three-quarter marker in 1:22.

The other elimination winner, Prodigal Seelster (Scott Zeron), was next to make a move in the final turn. He launched a first over attack from fourth and took command in deep stretch while Jamieson angled Mystician out of the pocket.

Prodigal Seelster and Mystician hit the wire together, but it was last year’s $1 million Metro Pace and this year’s Upper Canada Cup champion Mystician who scored the victory by a nose. Twin B Legend finished third.

“I thought I got up last stride,” said Jamieson following the win. “The last couple of starts he’s been disappointing. Jeff [Gillis] said he had a great week. He put the aluminum shoes on him and he has the Confederation Cup next week. He is coming into the race really good.”

Jamieson, fresh off his victory in the 2011 World Driving Championship on Friday night at Yonkers Raceway, was confident he was going to get to the wire first.

“Twin B Legend is a nice horse, he just didn’t have the right night,” he noted. “Mystician was on his game and running over everybody at the head of the stretch. Scott [Zeron with Prodigal Seelster] did a great job keeping me in until the last second until I could get over off his back and Mystician did the rest from there. He just showed his true heart, a heart of a champion.”

The son of Camluck-Mystic Mistress has a lifetime record of 8-8-1 in 22 starts and boasts career earnings of $1,229,668 for owners Gillis, Ken Henwood of Mississauga, Ont., Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont. and New York’s Gerald Stay.

The bay colt paid $6.30 to win as the second choice.

Mystician’s victory kicked off a natural hat trick for Gillis. The Hillsburgh, Ont. conditioner won the next two races with Kashas Kid (Jamieson) and Preferred Pace winner Ideal Race (Rick Zeron).

(courtesy Standardbred Canada & WEG)

The Henry Stable of Arthur, Ont. and Dan McCann of Parkhill, Ont. share ownership of Major Herbie, who captured the Dream Of Glory Consolation last weekend.

(courtesy of Standardbred Canada & OSS)

Grand River Raceway’s signature dash, the $300,000 Battle Of Waterloo is slated for race nine (post time 4:45 p.m.). Warrawee Needy headlines the field of Ontario-sired freshmen pacing colts. Undefeated in six career starts, he won his elimination division by 13 lengths in a new North American season’s record of 1:53.4. The E Dees Cam colt is trained and co-owned by five-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Carl Jamieson. With Jody Jamieson in the U.S. representing Canada in the World Driving Championship (and in the lead at time of press), Carl Jamieson will take on driving duties from post five in the big dance.

Mindsweeper is the one to beat in the $150,000 Battle Of The Belles (race seven, post time 3:45). The Mach Three miss set a new track and stakes record in her elimination division, and matched the North American season’s record, with an eight length score in 1:55. She starts from the outside (post eight) with Sylvain Filion for trainer Eric Adams and Millar Farms.

The afternoon includes a complete roster of side attractions, including:

• The eighth annual Drivers’ Edition of the Bouncy Pony Stakes (after race 10).

• Facepainting, balloon artists, bouncy castles, horse crafts, colouring contest, and pony rides (1:00 – 4:30).

• Mascot Race: Grandy The Grey looks to reclaim the ROMP Mascot Roadshow title against seven furry foes (after race 3).

• Meet & Have Your Photo Taken With Doug McNair & Scott Zeron (12:00 – 1:00)
Compliments of Standardbred Canada’s I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club.

• Ontario Sires Stakes Celebrity Horse Tour: free photos with Paula Seelster (1:00 – 3:00)
Compliments of Grand River Raceway and the Ontario Sires Stakes.

• Battle Of The Belles Prize Draw (for the ladies): Weekend Getaway For Two at the award-winning Breadalbane Inn & Spa in Fergus, ON (includes dinner, one night’s accommodations, breakfast and a spa credit).

• Battle Of Waterloo Prize Draw (for the gents): 2 spots on the Bus Tour to the World Driving Championship/Hambletonian to NY/NJ (Aug. 4 – 7) plus $250 spending money.

• OHHA’s Best Of Show Competition: $500 in prize money to be won by the caretakers of horses racing on Industry Day, as judged in the following categories:

1. Best Of Show Head-To-Toe — 1st: $100 • 2nd: $50 • 3rd: $25
2. Horse & Groom — 1st: $100 • 2nd: $50 • 3rd: $25
3. Harness Shine — 1st: $75
4. Above & Beyond (braids, sparkles, etc.) — 1st: $75

• Free Industry Day Handicapping Tournament:
Free entry forms are inside Industry Day race programs for patrons 18+. Handicap Win and Place selections for races three though nine. The top five bankrolls share in cash prizes of $1,000. The winner also secures a spot in the $25,000 TROT Canada National Handicapping Championship on Nov. 12 at Western Fair.

• Special guests joining the Industry Day festivities include: Post parade leaders Stocrest Percherons, Joanne Colville with Rosie and the Fergus Pipe Band. The broadcast team includes Ken Middleton (WEG), Greg Blanchard (Western Fair) and Darryl MacArthur of Grand River’s Paddock Report.

Battle Of Waterloo Ambassadors Napoleon & The Duke Of Wellington will also be on-hand for winners circle presentations, doling out trophies, trophy coolers, flowers, goodie-bags and packages of Grand River’s exclusive Victory Ale and matching beer mugs to the connections of each Industry Day race winner.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)

The three-year-old Here Comes Herbie-Independent Dame ridgling, owned by the Henry Stable of Arthur, Ont. and Daniel McCann of Parkhill, Ont., stopped the clock in 1:58.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)

With Jody Jamieson in the sulky, Masters Stakes runner-up Warrawee Koine settled in for a pocket ride after leaving the gate from Post 2. The daughter of Astreos-My Gal Hal followed new millionaire Voelz Hanover and Mario Baillargeon through early fractions of :26.4 and :54.4 before making the winning move.

As Panscleefandarpels and Randy Waples advanced first over and Sweet Hedge (Luc Ouellette) tipped off the pylons from third, Jamieson swiftly pulled the pocket in front just before the 1:22.3 third quarter station and sent his charge after the leader. She took over at the top of the stretch and paced home to a 1:50 victory, shaving a full second off her lifetime mark. Sweet Hedge, at odds of 17-1, finished one length behind in second while 9-5 favourite Western Silk and Mark MacDonald rallied from the backfield to show.

Warrawee Koine paid $7 to win as the 5-2 second choice. The Colin Johnson trainee notched her eighth win in 17 starts as a five-year-old and pushed her seasonal earnings to $224,600 for owner Dr. Michael R. Wilson of Rockwood, Ont. Lifetime, Warrawee Koine has won 21 of her 52 starts and now boasts earnings totalling $444,558.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)

A total of 18 freshmen Ontario-sired pacing colts and 24 fillies will face off in three respective divisions on Monday, July 25. The top nine finishers for each Battle will advance to their finals on Industry Day, the track’s annual horse racing celebration, on Monday, August 1.

Headlining the colts in the Battle Of Waterloo is Warrawee Needy. Trained by five-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Carl Jamieson, the E Dees Cam colt is undefeated in five career starts and has a Canadian season’s record, track record and Ontario Sires Stakes record to his credit.

A $20,000 purchase at last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, Warrawee Needy has banked $178,500 for Jamieson and co-owners Tom Kyron, Dr. Michael Wilson and Floyd Marshall. He enters his first race over a half-mile track with a mark of 1:51.4, taken in his first OSS Gold Elimination win at Mohawk Racetrack on June 27. He will be driven by three-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Jody Jamieson. Warrawee Needy will start from the trailing position (post nine) in the final division (race nine).

Gregg and Doug McNair - winners in the 2008 Battle Of Waterloo with Trail Boss - have two hopefuls in OSS Grass Roots winners Aviator Seelster (race four) and Secretsoftheknight (race nine).

Last year’s Battle Of Waterloo winner with Prodigal Seelster, Dave Menary campaigns 2011 hopeful North Shore Boy. Four-time Battle Of Waterloo winner Randy Waples will steer the Jeremes Jet son from the rail in the first division.

Machapelo finished third to Warrawee Needy in their latest OSS Gold Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 18. The Mach Three colt avoids the confrontation in Monday’s eliminations, but lands the outside post (eight) in the first division. He is a winner of $26,450 and will be driven for the first time by Scott Zeron for trainer Mike Keeling.

Your Nemesis and trainer Stephen Gillard won the second edition of the Battle Of Waterloo in 1999, and now the pair are looking for a shot at the Battle Of The Belles with Your Beautiful. She set a Canadian season’s record in her first of two career wins with an impressive 1:55.4 finish in an OSS Grassroots event at Hiawatha Horse Park on June 30. Stuart Sowerby will drive the winner of $38,500 from post seven in the first division.

Jason Libby trained the 2001 Battle Of Waterloo winner Dreamfair Vogel who retained sole ownership of the 1:55.4 stakes record for five years. His hopeful in this year’s Battle Of The Belles is Fine Art Mindale - the quickest of the bunch with a 1:54.1 score in her latest overnight race at Mohawk Racetrack on July 18. The Modern Art miss is a winner of two from three for earnings of $14,600. She will start from post six in race seven with Phil Hudon

Ben Wallace also has a contender in race seven with Classy Lane Rose. Paul MacDonell will pilot the Jeremes Jet filly from post three. She rallied hard in her last start from post seven to come from the back of the pack to finish two lengths in the runner-up spot in her own time of 1:53. The homebred miss is co-owned by Jamie Millier.

Post positions for both finals will be drawn on the Tarmac Show at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening. In the Battle Of The Belles eliminations, the top three finishers from each division will advance to the final. The top four finishers in each of the Battle Of Waterloo divisions, plus one of the two second-place finishers (as drawn by lot), will advance.

The Battle Of The Belles will be drawn following race eight. The draw for the Battle Of Waterloo will follow race ten. Both draws will be broadcast as part of the track’s simulcast show.

Post time for race one on Monday, July 25 is 7:10 p.m. Both finals will be featured during Grand River Raceway’s marquee event, Industry Day, on Monday August 1, with a special afternoon post of 1:30 p.m.

For complete Industry Day details, visit www.GrandRiverRaceway.com.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)

Best Ears made a break when making a bid for the early lead, and that left top honours to Warrawee Nonsuch. He made the speed to the quarter pole in :28 before Warrawee Needy and driver Jody Jamieson accelerated from sixth to first. The undefeated son of E Dees Cam-Great Memories hit the half in :56.4 and rolled the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.2 before turning on the afterburners and blazing away to a 16-3/4 length score in 1:52.1. Jake Sully was a distant second, with Machapelo taking home third prize.

The 1:52.1 record-setting mile lowered Rideau’s former track record of 1:52.3 established by Isle Of Patmos on October 29, 2004. It also matched the OSS record for two-year-old pacing colts on a five-eighths mile track. Just Asign To Me set the standard at Windsor Raceway last season.

The victory was the fifth in as many tries for Warrawee Needy, who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Carl Jamieson. The O’Brien Award-winning conditioner also shares ownership on the precocious pacer with Tom Kyron, Dr. Michael Wilson and Floyd Marshall. The lion’s share of the purse lifted the freshman’s bankroll to $178,500.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)

The connections of Anndrovette, Warrawee Koine and Chancey Lady have all accepted byes to the final. The byes were handed out to the highest money earners entered to contest the stakes event.

The top seven finishers in the elim will gain entrance to the final, which will be contested as part of a stakes-laden Mohawk card on Saturday, July 23.

The field for the elim appears below.

1 - Western Silk
2 - Ticket To Rock
3 - Laughandbehappy
4 - Dreamfair Eternal
5 - Blissful Smile
6 - Voelz Hanover
7 - Ultimate Velocity
8 - Rock N Soul
9 - Didrickson
10 - Bay Girl

(courtesy Standardbred Canada & WEG)