Sixty-four of Ontario’s most exciting three-year-old racehorses are set to battle over The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Monday, October 14.

The trotters and pacers will compete in eight $20,000 Grassroots Consolations, a late addition to the Ontario Sires Stakes schedule open to the top 16 point earners who did not earn a cheque in the September 21 Grassroots Championship.

Among the horses hoping to acquire some of the late season lucre is Two Doors Down, who was just inches shy of earning a share of the $50,000 Grassroots Championship purse. The three-year-old trotter was just edged out for fifth in the September 21 skirmish and will be looking for an improved performance from Post 6 at his local oval on Monday.

“He’s having a good week so far,” says trainer Don Beatson of Granton, Ont., who shares ownership of the gelding with Ralph and Sandra Pitt of Cargill, Ont.

Two Doors Down will start from Post 6 in the second sophomore trotting colt Consolation, slated as Race 6 on Monday’s action-packed program. Through six regular season Grassroots starts, the son of In Conchnito posted three wins, one second and two sixths to finish third in the point standings, making him the highest ranked point earner to qualify for the Consolations.

“He can leave out of there pretty good, so probably if he was close to the front it would be better for him,” notes Beatson. “That’s the way I’ve got him figured out right now any way.”

The trainer and his partners acquired Two Doors Down from Robert Montgomery of Carp, Ont. in mid-August, and Beatson notes that he is still learning the gelding’s quirks.

“I’m finding out as I go,” he explains. “I intend to keep racing him.”

Among the other colts hoping to capture a share of the Consolation purse money are Pounce Hanover and Euro Man.

Gerald Sloan of Harley, Ont. conditions Euro Man for his wife, Joanne Sloan, and will send the Cornaro Dasolo gelding out from the trailing Post 8. Euro Man made five appearances in the Grassroots regular season, posting two seconds, one third, one fourth and one sixth to finish nineteenth in the point standings.

Trainer Rick Zeron will steer Pounce Hanover from Post 5, looking for the gelding’s second Grassroots win of the season. The Majestic Son gelding heads into the event ranked twenty-first from one win and two fourths in three regular season Grassroots starts. Zeron, a resident of Oakville, Ont., shares ownership of Pounce Hanover with The Brabant Stable of London, Ont. and James Walker of Port Perry, Ont.

The Raceway will feature the three-year-old Grassroots Consolations in Races 1 through 6, 10 and 11 on Monday, October 14; with the first $20,000 battle getting underway at 4:05 p.m. Fans will also be treated to five prize draws throughout the afternoon for $50 wagers on the Ontario Sires Stakes races.

To view the harness racing entries for Monday at Western Fair, click the following link: Monday Entries – Western Fair District.

(OSS)