If you like trotters then the place to be on Saturday evening was Georgian Downs. The Innisfil oval hosted seven OSS divisions for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings –- three for Gold Series students and a four-pack for Grassrooters.

Mass Production was a front-stepping winner for trainer/driver Rick Zeron in the first of the $70,000 Gold Series divisions. The son of Muscle Mass-All Time Favourite got away second, but brushed to the top in the backstretch and trotted away from the competition. The colt drew clear to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Lucys Man in 1:59. Northern Major rounded out the top three finishers.

“I was very confident in my colt,” said Zeron after the front-end victory. “He’s been a great colt since the day we put the harness on him. He’s very versatile I can do whatever I like with him; I can go to the front with him, I can race him out of a hole, whatever it is, he just responds so well, he’s like driving a four-year-old horse.”

Zeron shares ownership on the youngster with Jim Walker of Port Perry and Bruno Dipoce of Wasaga Beach, Ont. Sent off as the 2-5 choice, Mass Production is now 2-for-2 to start his career. The $32,000 purchase from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale has banked $42,000 to date.

“I’m very pleased with him and I know he will step up in the near future and trot in 1:55,” added Zeron. “I’m quite pleased with him and I’m real happy for my partners Jim Walker and Bruno Dipoce, really happy for them, because, you know, it’s a long winter when you buy your yearlings and you take your time.”

Rose Run Speedster took the next Gold Series division in 2:00.1 for Team MacDonald. Anthony MacDonald got away sixth with the son of Windsong Espoir-Padam Hall, and they remained in that position until shortly past the half. The colt picked up a position at both the three-quarter pole and then the top of the stretch before unleashing :29.2 speed over the closing quarter of the contest. He won by 1-1/2 lengths over Life Well Lived and race favourite Uknow What To Do.

“This colt has never had a shortage of speed, and has never had to be shown how to win,” said MacDonald. “I’m very excited to race this colt all summer.”

Amy MacDonald trains the rookie for Rose Run Speedster Stable of Guelph, Ont, one of the fractional ownership groups in the couple’s new business venture, thestable.ca. It was the first lifetime tally for the freshman who was a $14,000 purchase from last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.

“Obviously Amy and I are very pleased to see thestable.ca get its first major stakes win,” said the Guelph resident. “Rose Run Speedster was inexpensive in Harrisburg at $14,000, but he has shown just why fractional ownership is so important for horse racing — a large group of owners at the track and in the winner’s circle who would have otherwise been at home tonight.“

Speedycrest went gate-to-wire in the final Gold Series division. Trainer/driver Luc Ouellette sliced out splits of :29, :58.4 and 1:29.4 with his new recruit, who then used a :29.1 kicker to win by six lengths over One Of The Few in 1:59. Rounding out the Triactor ticket was race favourite Clarion Hall.

“He minded his manners tonight, because he’s shown a couple times that at the gate he could make a mistake, but I guess he’s learning,” said Ouellette. “He went a good mile, we’re real happy with him.”

The gelded son of Angus Hall-Incredible Iam has manufactured a 1-1-0 record from just two trips to the track for owner Ecuries Richelieu Inc. of Venise-En-Quebec, QC. Speedycrest learned his early lessons under the tutelage of Joliette, QC resident Claude Beausoleil. After a pair of qualifiers and one overnight test at Hippodrome Trois-Rivieres, making a break behind the gate and being pulled up on May 28, scoring a 2:00.3 win on June 14, and recovering from an early break to be second on June 26, Beausoleil sent Speedycrest to Ouellette’s Campbellville, ON facility.

“They’ve been mentioning to me for the last two months how good he’s been training, and they were saying that he would do well in the first Gold, and they were right. They sent him, and he was ready, and he did well in the first Gold,” said Ouellette. “He got here 10 days ago and he’s done nothing but nice things, he’s one of those horses that whatever you want to do, he’s game for.

“I think he’s just learning all the time and good experiences will lead to better things,” added the horseman.

The first of the four $18,000 OSS Grassroots divisions went to Tycoon Seelster, who recovered nicely following a miscue getting away from the starting gate. That error sent the colt to the back of the bus, but he got his act together and rallied from eighth for driver Paul MacDonell. The Scott McEneny pupil fired home in :29.2 to win by three-quarters of a length over Pennant Seelster. Rounding out the Triactor ticket was Kitarro.

Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Tycoon Seelster was making his first lifetime start for owner Chris Storms of Picton, Ont. The $23,000 purchase from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale has banked $9,000 to date.

Next up was Mr Marshmellow who front-stepped to a 2:02.1 victory in his division for owner/trainer/driver Ondrej Gois of Rockwood, Ont. The son of Federal Flex-Ultra Chic laid down fractions of :30.3, 1:02.1 and 1:32.2 before scooting home in :29.4 to win by 5-3/4 lengths over LMC Mass Gem. My Big Kadillac grabbed the show dough.

The first-timer has banked $9,000 to date.

Rosberg passed his first test with flying colours thanks to a 2:02.2 triumph in the third division. In rein to Jack Moiseyev, the colt got away fourth before rushing to the lead on the way to the half. He zipped through middle splits of 1:02 and 1:32.4 before stepping home in :29.3 to post the win. He cruised to a two-length triumph over More Than Majestic, with Motown Jackpot taking home third prize.

Trainer Julie Walker co-owns the son of Manofmanymissions-Locksweeper with Ronald Piers and Layhoon Chan Brunner. The partners shelled out $13,000 to purchase the colt from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.

The final division went to Themanofmydreams and driver Denis St. Pierre in 2:02.3. The colt got away second before marching to the top in the second quarter. On the lead through panels of 1:02 and 1:32.4, the youngster then fired home in :29.4 to win by 4-3/4 lengths over Critical Mass. Yo Yo Mass rounded out the top three finishers.

Trainer Tiffanee Staley co-owns the son of Muscle Mass-Uneeda Dream with Alexandre Pilon, Christian Pilon and Jesse Legault. It was a winning debut for the $22,000 purchase from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale.

To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Georgian Downs.

(with files from OSS)