Dresden Raceway fans were treated to five impressive Grassroots performances – and a track record-setting mile - as Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing colts visited the oval on Monday afternoon.

Driver Paul Mackenzie kicked things off in the first $18,000 division, guiding King Royalty to a 1:58.4 score over Electric Western. Local favourite Regal Babe, owned by Rob Chapple of Chatham, finished third. All three colts were affected by an accident that saw driver Brad Forward thrown from Opening Line’s race bike heading into the final turn. Fortunately Forward was not seriously injured and was able to drive in the Monday evening program at Elora’s Grand River Raceway.

Mackenzie crafted King Royalty’s first lifetime win for trainer Dave Menary of Cheltenham. The trainer shares ownership of the son of Classic Card Shark with his father Larry Menary of Cheltenham and Michael Guerriero of Puslinch.

Two races later Puslinch resident Mackenzie was back in the Dresden winner’s circle with Concert Artist, who rang up the quickest clocking of the five Grassroots divisions, hitting the wire in 1:57.1. Tony O’Sullivan conditions the Artistic Fella gelding for owner-breeder Emerald Highlands Farm of Mount Vernon, OH. The colt’s second Grassroots win vaulted him into contention for a berth in the Sept. 21 Grassroots Championship. The clocking shaved one-fifth of a second off the former track record of 1:57.2 set by Huxley in 2011.

Division point leader Cheeky Fool scored his fourth Grassroots victory in the final division, going gate-to-wire in 1:59.3 for driver Scott Coulter and trainer Clifford Hill. Joshua Wade Jamieson owns the son of Western Maverick, who boasts a five race point tally of 196.

The other divisions were captured by On The Big Swing, who bested Hoorei For Flash and Rather Swell, owned by trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, with his 1:57.3 effort and V I P Bayama, who posted a 1:57.2 clocking.

The two-year-old pacing colts wrap up their Grassroots regular season at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 12.

(OSS)

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Dresden Raceway.