Ontario’s exciting three-year-old trotters and pacers opened up two nights of Grassroots Consolation action at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Monday evening.

The Grassroots events followed on the heels of the Gold Series Consolations at Grand River Raceway and driver Doug McNair added two more wins to the three he posted on Sunday. The 23-year-old reinsman made his first appearance in the London winner’s circle following the fifth race, guiding three-year-old trotting colt Cabertoss to a half-length victory in a personal best 1:59.

McNair engineered the victory for trainer and breeder William Murray and owner William Murray Jr. of Mountain, ON. The lightly rated son of Muscle Mass, who went into the race ranked fifteenth in the Grassroots point standings, bested Next To Go and Sir William.

Teaming up with three-year-old pacing gelding Ja El Pocketrocket in the tenth race, McNair once again employed a come-from-behind strategy and the fans’ second choice rocketed home to a six and three-quarter length victory in a personal best 1:54. Maddysonofagun followed the winner up the outside into second and Southwind Amazon rounded out the top three. Favourite and early leader OK Fabulous settled for fourth.

Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, ON owns Ja El Pocketrocket and Barry Treen conditions the son of Santanna Blue Chip, who finished the regular season eighteenth in the point standings.

The other sophomore trotting colt Consolation was captured by Doubledown Gass and trainer-driver Reg Gassien in 1:59 and the other pacing colt contest went to The Real One and driver Scott Coulter in 1:55.

Driver Mike Saftic also garnered two Grassroots Consolation wins, starting with a commanding victory by fan favourite Cardio Pump in the second three-year-old trotting filly battle. Cardio Pump grabbed control going by the three-quarters and accelerated away from the field to a nine and one-quarter length triumph in 1:59.4. Oaklea Veronica and Speedy Kim Mindale trotted into second and third.

Saftic piloted Cardio Pump to her first Ontario Sires Stakes victory for trainer Mark Steacy and owner Hutt Racing Stable of Paoli, PA. The Angus Hall daughter finished second in both of her regular season Grassroots appearances, putting her twenty-fourth in the point standings.

The veteran reinsman’s second victory came in the next race with sophomore pacing filly Foolish Mind, who led from start to finish, hanging on for a nose victory in 1:56.2. Fan favourite Burlesque finished second but was placed back to eighth for a pylon violation, promoting Panstakingly and Hippie Chic into second and third.

Sue Marie Gangell of Simcoe, ON trains Foolish Mind for her partner Barry Charles of New Rochelle, NY. The I Am A Fool filly was a two-time Grassroots winner during the regular season and finished fifth in the point standings.

The other pacing filly trophy went home with Mark Steacy trainee Shanghai Mimi, who was piloted to a 1:57.1 win by Chris Christoforou. The first trotting filly division was captured by Standing My Ground and Sylvain Filion in 1:58.3.

The Real One took the lone consolation for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings, and he did so at odds of 25-1. Scott Coulter swept the field with the Bernard Ayotte-trained son of Mach Three-Elle Blue Chip. He used a :29.2 closing quarter to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Grantor Hanover in 1:55. Third prize went to Classic Gent. Helene Fillion of Mirabel, Quebec owns the gelding who won for the tenth time this year in 19 trips to the track.

Grassroots Consolation action resumes at The Raceway on Tuesday evening with eight $20,000 battles for Ontario’s exciting two-year-old trotters and pacers. The first race gets under way at 4:05 p.m.

(OSS)

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