Grassrooters Battle At Border Oval
Five divisions of the OSS Grassroots for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening, and it proved to be a good night for sons of Modern Art and Camluck
.
Both sires had a pair of winners, while a son of E Dees Cam erupted for a major upset in the other split.
Go West Lucky Cam got things rolling with a 1:53.2 triumph for driver Brad Forward and trainer Bob McIntosh. The homebred son of Camluck-Our May West led every step of the mile en route to posting the two-length score in 1:53.2. Shortstacked was next best and third prize went to Names Fame. After going 3-for-4 as a rookie, the sophomore has followed up with a 3-for-11 record this season for the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. and Dwight Stacey.
My Gift To You took over command in the second quarter of his $24,000 assignment, and once he cleared it was all over. Jason Brewer guided the Jeff Gillis-trained son of Camluck-Eternal Gift to a 1:52.3 triumph over Stand By Cam and Sterling Chris. It was the tenth win of the 2009 campaign for the 13-time winner, who races for owner Mark Ford of Slate Hill, NY.
Surrealist gave Brewer back-to-back OSS scores thanks to his come-from-behind score in a career best clocking of 1:53.1. It was the first win of the season for the son of Modern Art-Keeping Secrets, who kicked home in :29.3 to post the tally over Blended Whiskey and Montanez. Ben Wallace conditions the three-time winner for Brad Grant of Milton, ON. The $12,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $188,324.
The Ladies Man went gate-to-wire in the next division for the duo of driver Kevin Wallis and co-owner/trainer Jim Ritchie. The son of Modern Art-The Lady Is Lucky laid down panels of :26.2, :56.3 and 1:24.2 before cruising home to win by a length in 1:53.4. Mild Mannered grabbed the runner-up award and Lookin For A Fight was third. The gelding is now a five-time winner this season and an eight-time winner to date for Ritchie and partners Murray Cox, Greg Majkowski and Paul Ritchie.
Enlightened Cam gave his backers plenty of bang for their bucks when he rallied to a narrow victory in the final division. The son of E Dees Cam-Western Goddess used a :28.4 final frame to rally to the career-best clocking of 1:53.2 at odds of 23-1. Phil Hudon mapped out the winning trip for the France MacLean trainee, who defeated race favourite Alexie Mattosie and Panjour Monsieur. The colt is owned by Paul MacLean and Gerry Gauthier, who claimed the pacer for $12,750 earlier this summer. Since being claimed he has picked up five wins in 10 starts while banking $31,545 along the way.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.