On the night prior to the $1 million North America Cup, the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Division got a chance in the spotlight at Mohawk Racetrack, competing over the seven-eighths mile oval in eight $18,000 events.

The fastest of the eight contests was the fourth division, which went to Prince Clyde and driver James MacDonald in 1:51.3. MacDonald pulled Prince Clyde out of the pocket before the 1:23.3 three-quarters and he drew away from his foes through the lane en route to a five and a half length triumph over Marco De Vie and Randy Waples. Weatherly and Rick Zeron checked in third.

The win was the eighth lifetime for Prince Clyde, a Camluck colt trained by Tony Montini for owners Holland Racing Stable of Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ont. and Albina Montini of Acton, Ont. Prince Clyde has now earned over $82,000 in his career.

Waples, a former Lampman Cup winner as leading driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes, did get a chance to get his picture taken plenty of times, though, as he had a trio of victories.

Waples struck first with High Flier, who went all the way on the lead to score in 1:52.4 for co-owner/trainer David Taff of Waterdown, Ont., and Christopher Nicol of West Yorkshire, England. Lucky King (James MacDonald) grabbed second and Major Starlight (Sylvain Filion) was third. The win was the third in 10 tries for High Flier, a Shadow Play colt. He has banked over $21,000.

Regal Son came knifing through horses in deep stretch to just get up and win the seventh division for Waples in 1:53.2. Pop Pop Joe (Chris Christoforou) brushed in for second money while Megatron (Sylvain Filion), who put up fractions of :27.4, :56.,1 and 1:24.1, ended up third. The victorious Stonebridge Regal colt is trained by Bob McIntosh of Windsor, Ont., who also bred Regal Son with long-time partner C S X Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio. Gordon Wright of Charlotte, Michigan, is also part of the ownership contingent. Regal Son is a two-time winner in his racing career and has earned over $35,000.

Waples finished off the late double and his OSS three-bagger by winning the nightcap with Hope For Badlands in 1:52.1. He defeated Grand Rewards (Rick Zeron) by open lengths with Andreios Kardia (Steve Byron) back in third. Shawn Robinson trains Hope For Badlands, a gelding by Badlands Hanover, for owner CMR Farms of Hagersville, Ont. Hope For Badlands, who was unraced as a two-year-old, has three wins from seven trips behind the gate this season, and he has earned in excess of $37,000.

The biggest upset of the night occurred in the sixth OSS division when Atomic Million AM got out of the pocket late in the mile and was up for a 1:53 tally at odds of 11-1 for driver Sylvain Filion. OK Gladiator (Doug McNair) was next, followed by St Lads Zeke (Mario Baillargeon). Alain Martin of Gatineau, Quebec, bred, owns, and trains Atomic Million AM, a gelded son of Million Dollar Cam. He has eight lifetime wins and earnings of over $31,000.

The remaining three divisions were won by:

-- Einsteins Best, an Artistic Fella gelding, in 1:52.3. He was driven by Steve Condren for trainer Jeff Gillis and owners Canamerica Capital Corp. and Hyatt Holdings Inc. of Milton, Ont., and Richard Papazian of Toronto, Ont.

-- Warp Factor Three, a Mach Three gelding, in 1:53.3. He was steered by Chris Christoforou for trainer Tony O’Sullivan and owner Emerald Highlands Farm of Mount Vernon, Ohio.

-- The Optimist, a gelding by No Pan Intended, in 1:54.4. Christoforou also drove The Optimist to victory for co-owner/trainer Kelly Goodwin of Fowlerville, Michigan and co-owner Michael Lee of Marshall, Michigan.

Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action for the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers will occur again on July 1, and it will once again be at Mohawk Racetrack.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.

(With files from OSS)