Rookie pacers and trotters will converge on Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday, as the five-eighths mile oval gets ready for the OSS Grassroots semi-finals

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The freshmen will get the spotlight at Rideau on Friday evening before the attention shifts to the sophomores on Sunday night. The top 16 point earners from each division earned the right to battle in a set of semi-finals with the top four finishers from each of those tilts earning a berth into their respective $100,000 final at Rideau Carleton Raceway on November 1.

Canada Cool was the leading point earner among the two-year-old trotting fillies this season, and she has drawn Post 3 in her semi-final assignment for trainer Mark Steacy. The daughter of Angus Hall-To B Mz America assembled a 2-3-0 record from six starts in the provincial program this season, and that has helped her stash away more than $51,000 to date. The filly has homefield advantage working in her favour for the partnership of Katherine Steacy, David Reid, Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing and Joe Loring. Jody Jamieson will make the trip to the oval to handle the assignment behind the 2-1 morning line favourite.

Warrawee Lad led the way in the standings for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, and he’ll look to keep the ball rolling for trainer Bill Robinson and the partnership of Frank and Harry Loyens. The son of Million Dollar Cam-Tammy Renee Q earned a 3-0-2 record in six starts in the OSS Grassroots this year, and that has helped him bank more than $48,000. Jody Jamieson will hop behind the colt, who is the 2-1 morning line favourite in his tilt.

Lyons Anitacol was nearly perfect in five assignments in the OSS Grassroots this season, and that earned her the top spot in the standings among the two-year-old pacing fillies. She went 4-1-0 in her assignments for trainer Bill Robinson, who will have Jody Jamieson at the helm of the daughter of E Dees Cam-Thereal Ideal. With almost $90,000 in her coffers this season, the 2-1 morning line choice will start from Post 2 for owner Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, ON.

Zorgwijk Knight hit the board in all six of his OSS engagements this season in the two-year-old trotting colt division, and that earned him a huge lead in the standings for trainer Joe Pereira. The son of Armbro Ricochet-Zorgwijk Delicate assembled a 4-1-1 record for owner Percy Elkins of Campbellville, ON, and driver Doug Bowins will try to map out another winning effort for the photogenic youngster who has stashed away close to $90,000 in nine trips postward. He’s drawn Post 3 in his semi-final, and he’s listed as the 2-1 favourite in the morning line.

Post time for the first dash on Friday’s 15-race program is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

To view Friday’s harness racing entries, click here.

To view TrackIT prelim program pages for Friday’s card, click here.