Ontario’s high speed three-year-old pacing colts are headed to Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday, July 29 for the third Grassroots event of their season

, and Ailsa Craig, ON resident Dan Morrissey is hoping Daylon Hot Rod finds a little more success over the Sarnia oval than he did in his Ontario Sires Stakes debut.

“He’s better on a big track, a five-eighths compared to a half. He’s a bigger horse,” notes Morrissey. “He didn’t really like those tight corners at Hanover.”

Starting from the rail at Hanover Raceway in the July 17 Grassroots event, Daylon Hot Rod made a break heading around the first turn and finished well behind the leaders in sixth. Morrissey is hoping the youngster finds Post 4 at Hiawatha more to his liking, noting that the colt posted a pair of seconds in Sarnia this spring.

“We were a little disappointed he made a break, so hopefully everything goes better Thursday,” says the trainer, who conditions the colt for William Woodburn and Daniel McCann of Parkhill, ON and breeder David Lemon of Komoka, ON. “I think he’s definitely a Grassrooter.”

A $16,000 purchase from the 2008 Forest City Yearling Sale, Daylon Hot Rod grew into a tall and lanky two-year-old so his connections decided against a freshman season. The son of Astreos and Daylon Heritage was turned out for the summer, returning to a regular training schedule in September 2009. He qualified at Western Fair Raceway on Feb. 12, 2010 and has made 16 starts through the last five months, scoring four wins, four seconds and one third for earnings of $24,992.

“He seems like he’ll get better,” says Morrissey. “He’s just a big, growthy colt. He’s just really learning how to race.”

Since his first start, Daylon Hot Rod has been pacing steadily faster, recording a 1:52.3 personal best in an overnight event at Mohawk Racetrack on June 28. Trevor Henry will steer the gelding in his second Grassroots outing, tackling a field of provincial heavyweights in the ninth race, including two victors from the Hanover event — Wellthereyougo from Post 1 and Daleys Interest from Post 9.

“The first time he (Trevor Henry) drove him was in Hanover, so he’ll know him a little better this time,” predicts Morrissey, who will train Daylon Hot Rod on Tuesday in preparation for the contest.

The trainer expects all three owners to be on hand for the gelding’s second stab at the Ontario Sires Stakes program, and hopes Daylon Hot Rod can pick up a share of the $24,000 Grassroots purse, following in the footsteps of his half-sister Daylon Highlander, who was a Grassroots winner at two before injury halted her promising career.

“He’s a nice horse to work around and everything. We hope he gets better. We think he’ll get better, but he’s got to go out and prove it yet,” says the horseman. “Hopefully he’ll come around and have a good year.”

The sophomore pacing colts will compete in Races 5, 6, 7 and 9 through 12 on Thursday evening. Division leaders Modern Era and What The Sheik will be looking to add to their point tally from Post 8 in the sixth race and Post 3 in the tenth race, respectively.

Hiawatha Horse Park sends its first race behind the starting gate at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

(O.S.S.)

To view Thursday’s entries, click here.