Two-year-olds trained by Kyle Fellows took half of the Ontario Sires Stakes on Wednesday, July 30 at Grand River Raceway, which hosted the second leg of the Grassroots Series for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Toss Of The Dice kicked off the stakes action, dropping from the Gold level and earning his second straight victory with a 2:00.3 tour of the Elora, Ont. oval. Driver Tyler Borth and Toss Of The Dice followed an early pocket-popping move by the favoured Hot Country to take over command after a :30.3 opening panel. Kept to task by Borth through a :59.4 half, Toss Of The Dice then fought back when headed by Hot Country past three-quarters in 1:31.1 and drew one length clear of that rival in the stretch, with first leader Zillennial following back in third. The Archangel-Roll Sevens gelding is owned by Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Ont., Leo Fleming of Campbellville, Ont., Bill Manes of Rockwood, Ont., and William Cripps of Acton, Ont.

Mike Me Up was the fastest of the four $25,000 Grassroots division winners as he led gate to wire in a seven-length romp. Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, the bettors' choice carved out fractions of :29.2, :58.3 and 1:29.1 en route to a 1:58.2 triumph. The Muscle Mass-Meghan C gelding is also co-owned by Yolanda Fellows along with Erna and Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta., and Mike McAllister of Beaumont, Alta. Mike Me Up scored his first career win following a third-place finish in his debut during the opening leg of the Grassroots at Woodbine Mohawk Park then a second-place finish between L P Bay and Raucous, who were both victorious in the other divisions on Wednesday evening.

The other successful Grassroots trotters put up big winning margins too. With Travis Cullen in the bike, favourite Raucous (Muscle Mass-Ms Mischief Maker) scored a maiden-breaking 1:59 victory by 7-1/4 lengths for trainer Dan Lagace and owner W. J. Donovan of Delray Beach, Florida. 

L P Bay (Trixton-SOS Respect) won his division by six lengths in 2:00.4 with Mario Baillargeon driving for trainer Mark Etsell, who co-owns with breeder Terry Devos of Langton, Ont., and Peter Porter of Port Dover, Ont.

The next Grassroots leg for the two-year-old male trotters is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 8 at Mohawk.

In addition to his two Grassroots victories, Kyle Fellows watched a third successful two-year-old make a winner's circle appearance during the 10-race card after pacing gelding French Bulldog broke his maiden in 1:56 in his second career start. Yolanda Fellows and Blair Corbeil share ownership of the Bulldog Hanover-I Need Hotstuff gelding with partners Windermere Stable of New York City, New York and Irene Carey of Belgrave, Ont.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Mike Me Up winning on July 30)