Nine divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes went postward Tuesday evening at Georgian Downs, with two-year-old trotting colts and geldings the stars of the show in those Grassroots events.
Strike It Big kicked off the OSS parade with a 39-1 shocker in the first division. Sylvain Filion rallied the Dan Creighton pupil to the 2:00.1 decision over Choochoo Charlie and Federal Strike.
It was the first lifetime tally for the youngster, who failed to hit the board in his first two outings versus OSS Gold Series foes. The son of Striking Sahbra-Martini Time, who was a $21,000 purchase from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale, is owned by Dave Hudson, Chasin The Dream Stable and Rick Podolinsky.
Pasadena Star got the job done for the chalk players, who gripped their programs tightly as the gelding got up to win by a nose as the 1-2 favourite. Randy Waples guided the son of Kadabra-Pasadena Princess to the narrow tally over Northern Idol in a career-best clocking of 1:59.2. Third prize went to Alerthemedia.
Bob McIntosh trains the homebred for his Robert McIntosh Stables Inc and the C S X Stables of Liberty Centre, OH. It was the second lifetime score for the freshman who bumped his earnings to $15,440.
Yoooukilis, who made breaks in his first two appearances, was recently re-rigged with a set of trotting hopples – and he liked them. The son of Ken Warkentin-Tymal Francesca shot to the front in his $10,000 tilt and didn’t look back. He sliced out splits of :30, 1:01.3 and 1:32 for Trevor Ritchie before using a :30-second closing quarter to seal the deal in 2:02. Rival Seelster was next best, with Razor Ramone taking home third prize.
Sent off at odds of 11-1, the homebred grabbed his first paycheque for the Boston Red Sox-loving brothers, trainer/co-owner Jeff Boyd and partner Rod Boyd.
Hetties Commander got away slowly before finishing with a rush to take home the top spot in the fourth division. Dave Boughton, who was still 16-1/2 lengths from the leader at the mid-way point of the mile, convinced the colt to erase that deficit in the back-half of the $10,000 contest en route to posting the win by 2-3/4 lengths. He posted the 2:02.2 victory over Keep It Cool and Muscle Action.
Trainer Mike Rivest co-owns the son of The Pres-Hetties Dream with Gary Silliphant of Simcoe and Denis Rivest of Palgrave, ON. The youngster, who was a $4,000 purchase at last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, has banked $9,200 to date.
Blackjack Spur won as he pleased in the next division for the duo of driver Steve Condren and trainer Chantal Mitchell. The son of Pegasus Spur-Sweetie Spur, who was making his pari-mutuel debut, sat third through the opening half before brushing to the front shortly past the three-quarter pole. He used a :30-second closing panel to win by four lengths in 2:02. Taurus Seelster was the runner-up, with third prize going to Dewey Have To Play.
Bred by Roy Davis and owned by Richard Davis of Washington, PA, Blackjack Spur took home a $5,000 for his winning effort.
Whichamacallit is now 2-for-2 to start his career thanks to his 2:00.2 triumph in the sixth division for driver Sylvain Filion. The O’Brien Award-winning reinsman was in no hurry with the colt in the early going, but the rookie really went to work in the late stages of the mile. He swept past five foes in the final half of the $10,000 tilt en route to the 2:00.2 tally. It was 1-1/4 lengths back to runner-up Tyrone Haji, with Lexus Rocky grabbing third prize.
Dustin Jones trains the Deweycheatumnhowe-Won An Done colt for Ecurie Synergie of Montreal, QC. Purchased for $75,000 at last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, he’s pocketed $14,000 to date.
Deweykeepumnwhy made it back-to-back wins for sire Deweycheatumnhowe thanks to his speedy score in the next division. Jody Jamieson mapped out the half-length score for the gelding, who rallied from mid-pack to win in 1:57.4 over Harper Blue Chip and Corsair Hall.
Out of the Amigo Hall mare, Beazy, Deweykeepumnwhy races out of the stable of trainer Ron Parsons for owner Norah Parks of New Lowell, ON. It was the trotter’s first win in four tries and the lion’s share of the purse boosted his earnings to $9,200.
Theresademoninme went to the front and didn’t look back in his assignment en route to notching a 2:01.4 score by 1-3/4 lengths over Dewey In Control. Passed Dat Point was third. Jody Jamieson rated the eventual winner through early fractions of :29.3, 1:01.3 and 1:32 before using a :29.4 kicker to seal the deal.
Murray Brethour trains the son of Kadabra-Tortoni for Doug Millard of Woodstock, ON. The $23,000 purchase from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale now owns a 1-1-2 record from four trips to the track. He’s managed to stash away $12,140 in the process.
Solar Sun took home bragging rights in the final division thanks to his coast-to-coast performance for driver Trevor Henry. The son of Majestic Son-Khaz Mcdust sliced out splits of :30.1, 1:02 and 1:32.3 before scooting home in :29.3 to win by a neck over Ole Jack Magic in 2:02.1. Warrawee Pro tagged along to grab the show dough.
David Frey of Acton, ON owns and trains the rookie who chalked up his first win in four tries. Purchased for $2,500 from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, Solar Son has potted $11,746.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.