Just over a month into the Ontario Sires Stakes season reigning Johnston Cup champion Gregg McNair has jumped out to an early lead in the race to defend his title.

The Guelph resident currently has 94 points, 38 more than his closest competitor Richard Moreau, and will be looking to add a few more to that total when two-year-old trotting colts Stonebridge Fiesta and American Superman line up behind the starting gate at Mohawk Racetrack for Grassroots action on Monday, July 15.

Fifth in a division of the Grassroots season opener at Kawartha Downs on June 29, Stonebridge Fiesta will be looking to improve on that result from Post 6 in the first race. The full brother to $783,186 winner Stonebridge Diablo is owned by McNair and Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke and was an $11,000 purchase out of last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale. McNair’s son Doug, also of Guelph, will steer the Angus Hall son on Monday.

American Superman makes his debut in the third $18,000 division on Monday. The full brother to McNair’s former trainee Eagle Canada, who earned $339,904 in her racing career, will start from Post 4 with Doug McNair in the race bike. Gregg McNair, Len Gamble, 1035840 Ontario Inc. of Arthur and breeder Frank Dettore Horse Racin of Ohio share ownership on the son of Kadabra-Sturdy Lori.

Last season marked the first time McNair was honoured with the leading trainer title in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, but his early season statistics indicate it may not be the last. The veteran horseman has competed in all eight OSS divisions this season, sending out 22 different horses at the Gold and Grassroots levels.

Post time for Mohawk Racetrack’s Monday, July 15 program is 7:25 p.m. and the two-year-old trotting colts will wage their Grassroots battles in Races 1, 2, 3, 9, and 11.

(OSS)

To view entries for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack.