The Sunshine Beach colt Ahi Sunshine blew away his rivals in the opening race of the Tuesday, June 6 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the opening division of the opening leg for the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series for pacing sophomore males.

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice, Ahi Sunshine swooped to the lead past a :27.1 first quarter to pocket Watchmaker and shuffle early leader Clown Car to third. He carried his speed up the backside to clock a :55.1 half and left his foes chasing from that point. Ahi Sunshine opened six lengths on his rivals to three-quarters in 1:23.2, widened to a 9-1/2-length lead in the stretch and coasted home a 6-3/4-length winner with Troubles A Brewin gaining ground to take second in the 1:51.1 mile. Gandolf The Black was third and Watchmaker settled for fourth.

David Drew manages Ahi Sunshine for owners Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., Allen Sellen and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. The colt won his sixth race from 13 starts and has now earned $96,979. Bob McClure drove the $7.30 winner.

Nightime Dancer uncorked a 1:51.2 mile to take the second Grassroots division. The Rod Boyd-trained colt by Sunshine Beach sat fourth through a :26.4 quarter set by 8-5 favourite Ikes Dream before springing into action. Driver Jody Jamieson brushed Nightime Dancer to the fore following a :54.4 half and kept the colt plugging through three-quarters in 1:22.4 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Artsalive, who rallied from a pylon trip for second. Sauble Ace hustled from the back for third.

Winning his third race from 10 starts, Nightime Dancer has now earned $52,452 for owner 1187422 Ontario Inc. He paid $6.60 to win.

Pocket-sitter Palladium Hanover pushed past odds-on favourite Shadows Terror down the lane to take the third Grassroots division in 1:53. Driver Bob McClure landed the gelded son of Artspeak on the lead to a :27.3 first quarter before yielding to track Shadows Terror through a :56.2 half. McClure moved Palladium Hanover from the pylons passing three-quarters in 1:24.4 and dug into the leader all through the lane to slide a head in front at the beam and win with Full Horse back in third.

Jodie Cullen trains Palladium Hanover, a nine-time winner from 16 outings and an earner of $57,285, for owners Wayne MacRae and Daniel Ross. He paid $6.70 to win.

The first favourite of the Grassroots divisions to prevail was Joker On Jack in the fourth division as he landed a 9-5 promise in 1:52.4. The gelded son of Bettors Delight circled to the lead after a :27.1 first quarter and staved off a first-over challenge from Big Dream Fella through middle fractions of :56.1 and 1:24.4. Driver Tyler Borth then kept the Dave Menary trainee alive through the lane as he held 1-1/4 lengths over late-charging The Moment Arose in second with Wry taking third.

Menary Racing Inc., Michael Guerriero, Alan Alber and Larry Menary own Joker On Jack. The gelding won his third race from 12 starts and has now earned $46,400. He paid $5.90 to win.

Sounds Good wrapped the Grassroots divisions with a 1:52.1 pocket-popping victory. The Gregg McNair trainee yielded command to odds-on favourite Reign Supreme past a :27.3 first quarter and stayed put through a clip of :56.4 and 1:25 before driver Doug McNair laid his attack. Sounds Good ground into Reign Supreme all through the lane as they spurted well clear and Sounds Good took the neck decision with All Attitude well back in third.

Michael and Sam Sergi own Sounds Good, a four-time winner from 11 outings and an earner of $169,776. He paid $10.30 to win.

To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.