Campbellville resident Larry Small piloted three-year-old trotting colt Burnt Stew to an impressive 1:59.2 victory in the last $24,000 Grassroots division

at Flamboro Downs on Thursday.

Starting from Post 2, Small eased the gelding away from the gate and was sitting fifth on the rail when Mopey Corey reached the opening quarter in :29.2. As Mopey Corey led the field to a 1:01 half, Small sent Burnt Stew up the outside and started to pressure the pacesetter. By the 1:29.4 three-quarters, Burnt Stew was neck and neck with Mopey Corey, and the Berndt Hanover gelding trotted smartly around the final turn to reach the stretch three and a half lengths ahead of his peers.

Maintaining his brisk tempo, Burnt Stew pulled away to a seven length victory in 1:59.2. Rosesbowls MVP closed well to be second, leaving Mopey Corey to settle for third.

Small trains and drives Burnt Stew for owner-breeder John Christensen of Scarborough. Through 12 starts the gelding has tallied three wins, two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $42,475. With two wins and one second in four Grassroots outings, Burnt Stew wraps up the regular season with 125 points and a share of seventh spot in the division standings.

Dashing Earl and Overdraft dueled to a thrilling finish in the sixth race that saw the top four colts reach the wire with less than one length between them. Anahar Buster hustled away from the starting gate and led the field through fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:30.1. Overdraft and Good Friend were tucked along the rail in second and third, while Dashing Earl pressed the pace from the outside.

Turning for home Anahar Buster had a three-quarter length lead over his peers, but three other drivers were reaching for their accelerator. The colts powered down the stretch to a thrilling finish that saw Dashing Earl prevail by a nose in 2:01.2, with Overdraft second, and Good Friend and Anahar Buster half a length back in third and fourth.

Carlisle resident David Boughton engineered the colt's victory for trainer Jim Arledge and owner-breeder Robert Key of Leechburg, PA. The son of Earl has posted three wins, three seconds and two thirds in 22 starts this season for earnings of $68,114. He heads to the October 25 Grassroots Semifinal with 125 points, tied for seventh with Burnt Stew.

Panz Kafka wrapped up his regular season with an impressive performance in the eighth race. Starting from the outside Post 8, the Angus Hall son and driver Brad Forward powered up the outside to the half, where they wrestled control of the race away from King Gus. Six lengths ahead at the three-quarters, Panz Kafka cruised home a four length winner in 1:59.4. Whatnblazes and King Gus rounded out the top three.

Windsor resident Bob McIntosh trains Panz Kafka for owner-breeder Peter Pan Stables Inc. of Pepper Pike, OH. Thursday's victory was the colt's fifth in 12 starts and boosted his Grassroots point tally to 112, putting him in a tie for ninth spot with last year's division champion Lukas Rossi.

The final Grassroots division went to Structure Fire, who sailed home a five and three-quarter length winner in 1:59.4, besting Berndt Energy and Striking Lightning.

Puslinch resident Jason Brewer steered Structure Fire to his fourth win of the season for trainer Gary Lance of Port Perry and his partners Trevor Lance of Port Perry and Brian Samis of Uxbridge. Prior to Thursday's outing, the Amigo Hall son had been battling the Gold Series colts.

The top 16 point earners will now prepare for a pair of Grassroots Semifinals at Rideau Carleton Raceway on October 25. The top four finishers from each Semifinal will advance to the $100,000 Grassroots Championship at Rideau on November 1.

Ontario's talented two-year-old pacing fillies will wrap up their regular season over the Flamboro Downs oval next Wednesday, October 14.

(OSS)

To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click here.