The two-year-old trotting colts will kick off the 2021 Prospect Series Finals at Grand River Raceway on Friday, Sept. 24 and local trainer John Holding is hoping Arch Ruler can deliver another top-two effort.
“He was racing good for the people we bought him off, and he’s racing good for us. I expect he’ll be close,” said Kitchener resident Holding, who shares ownership of Arch Ruler with Morley Bosomworth of Elora, ON. “He’s a nice colt. He’s a little feisty at times, but I love him. He’s one of the nicest horses we’ve bought in a while.”
Fergus, ON resident Bruce Richardson will steer Arch Ruler from Post 6 in the $15,000 Final, hoping to map out a trip behind early favourites Sir Ballykeel and Serenade Street, who will be firing out of Posts 3 and 4. The pair has been no worse than second since Holding and Bosomworth purchased Arch Ruler in mid-August, winning an overnight event at Grand River Raceway on Aug. 30 and finishing second in the Sept. 4 and 11 Prospect Series Legs. While racing out of the Ben Baillargeon barn, the Archangel son tested his skills against the Grassroots colts, finishing ninth, third and fourth in the first three Legs.
“He was never on a half-mile track until we got him, because where Baillargeon trains there’s no half-mile, it’s a five-eighths, so that was a concern, but he did it quite well,” said Holding, who may head back to the larger oval with the colt after Friday’s Final. “He’ll get at least a couple more starts. We might take him to Mohawk; see what he’s like down there.”
The two-year-old trotting colts will square off in the third race on Friday’s card, which gets under way at 6:30 pm. Holding will also send out Darling Please from Post 2 in the three-year-old trotting filly Final in Race 9, but said the Merchandiser daughter’s inability to hustle off the gate will hamper her chances at earning a share of the $15,000 purse money.
The other Prospect Series Finals go postward as Races 4 through 10 and owner/trainer Matt Dupuis is hoping P L Oliver can score his second straight win from Post 1 in the sixth race. The three-year-old pacing colt was a handy winner in his Sept. 11 Prospect Series division at Hanover Raceway and Dupuis said the Sportswriter son has been on his toes this week.
“He’s got the rail. I was happy when I seen that. He’s feeling really good that horse this week, feeling really good,” said the Rockwood, ON resident. “He trained good yesterday, so he should give a good effort.”
In addition to the win, P L Oliver recorded a second and third in Prospect Series action this summer. Through 13 sophomore starts the consistent colt boasts a record of three wins, five seconds and four thirds for earnings of $31,903.
“He’s lazy, but when somebody comes to him then he’ll take off again,” said Dupuis. “He won’t give any extra.”
Guelph, ON resident Jason Ryan will steer P L Oliver on Friday, looking to extend his win streak with the colt to two. Division point leader Big Teddy will start from the trailing Post 8, two-time Prospect Series winner Pretty Boy Duke gets Post 3 and reigning division champion Sauble Attack will be looking to defend his Prospect Series title from Post 4.
Complete entries for Friday’s Prospect Series Finals are available here and fans will be able to download a program and watch the live stream on Grand River Raceway’s website.
(Photo courtesy Grand River Raceway)
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