In spite of a track rated one second slower than normal, Ontario’s talented three-year-old pacing colts delivered seven outstanding Grassroots performances at Kawartha Downs on Saturday night
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Jason Brewer piloted My Gift To You to the quickest mile, a 1:54 score in the third $24,000 Grassroots division. The Camluck son took control of things just past the opening quarter, and fought off a challenge from PW Tootsie (Yves Filion) at the three-quarters, before sprinting home to the one and one-quarter length victory. Mild Mannered (Gord Brown) closed hard to claim second-place honours, leaving PW Tootsie in third.
Jeff Gillis trains My Gift To You for Martin Scharf of Lawrence, New York. The colt started off his Ontario Sires Stakes campaign at the Gold Series level, dropping into Saturday’s Grassroots event after failing to qualify for two consecutive Gold finals. Through 27 starts the colt now has nine wins, five seconds and five thirds for earnings of $145,732.
Brewer also landed in the winner’s circle following the second race, steering division leader Alexie Mattosie to his fourth straight Grassroots victory. The No Pan Intended son wrestled control of the race away from Star Parade (Robert Shepherd) past the halfway marker and sailed home a five and three-quarter length winner in 1:54.3. Star Parade settled for second, with Allamerican Extra (Reg Gassien), owned by W G James Stables Ltd. and John James of Blackstock, rounding out the top three.
Matthew Dupuis trains Alexie Mattosie for Hardy Mill Stable of Beaver Bank and GLB Stable of Lakeview, N.S. The gelding now boasts a perfect total of 200 Grassroots points and sole ownership of top spot in the division standings.
Bradley Watt also made two appearances in Kawartha Downs’ winner’s circle on Saturday. The reinsman engineered a come from behind victory for Coolo Breezo in the sixth race, sprinting down the stretch to a two length victory over pacesetter Montanez (Reg Gassien) and pocket sitter Village Bistro (Joe Hudon, Jr.) in 1:54.4.
Saturday’s triumph was the second in 11 starts for Coolo Breezo, who is trained by Casie Coleman for Ken Fraser of Ayr and Sharon Heldmann of Drumbo. The Modern Art son had finished fourth in his first two Grassroots starts this season.
Watt’s second triumph was another off the pace effort with Herestopatrick in Race 7. Starting from Post 6 the Apaches Fame son was last through the first half the race. Circling out three-wide at the three-quarter pole the gelding sprinted around the final turn and down the stretch to snatch a three-quarter length victory away from Go West Lucky Cam (Gord Brown) and pacesetter Azoreansailor (Aaron Byron).
The 1:54.2 triumph was the fifth through 19 starts for Herestopatrick, who is owned by Michael Cecile of Windsor and trained by Mark Austin.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Strand Hanover in 1:54.1; Eh in 1:54.4; and Blended Whiskey in 1:55.1.
The exciting three-year-old pacing colts make their fifth Grassroots start at Windsor Raceway on September 27. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Kawartha Downs on Tuesday, September 15 with Gold eliminations for the lightning fast three-year-old pacing fillies.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.
(OSS)