Tommy Tiger will make his Ontario Sires Stakes debut in front of a hometown crowd on Sunday afternoon when the three-year-old pacing colts congregate at Dresden Raceway for their Grassroots season opener

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A permanent resident of Dresden’s backstretch, Tommy Tiger has posted two sharp wins over the half-mile oval in recent weeks. On May 24 the son of Rambaran and MZ Tomboy romped to a 16 length victory in 1:58.2, and on June 7 he posted a four length victory in 1:58.1.

“Through the years I’ve always had one that managed to pay most of the bills, and right now it’s Tommy Tiger,” says James Eagleson, who bred, owns and trains the colt. “It’s a thrill to have one that can win.”

Among Dresden Raceway’s longest standing tenants, Eagleson hopes things work out better for Tommy Tiger than they did for the first horse he made eligible to the Ontario Sires Stakes program.

“I remember the first year of the Sires Stakes (1974), I had a horse that could go, but he got the virus, and he had the virus all summer. He never did get to start in the Sires Stakes,” recalls the Tupperville resident.

“I always pay them up in the Sires Stakes, but I’m realistic. If I don’t think they are good enough I drop out,” he adds. “This horse could always pace fast.”

MZ Tomboy’s fifth foal, Tommy Tiger will be the first member of his family to start in the provincial program, but Eagleson is not sure yet if he is the most talented. Until proven otherwise that honour belongs to the mare’s second offspring, Tommy White Sox, who took a mark of 1:56.4 and posted seven wins before an injury ended her career.

“Tommy White Sox had the makings of a great racehorse,” says Eagleson. “Tommy White Sox was the fastest. This horse is maybe faster, but he’s only raced a few times.”

Tommy Tiger has eight sophomore starts under his belt, recording three wins, two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $16,410. Unfortunately, Eagleson has not seen many of the youngster’s efforts due to ongoing health battles. Sunday will be the first time he has been to the track in almost two months.

“I just got out of the hospital today (Wednesday),” he explains. “I’ve been pretty sick for the last few years, the horses are the thing that gives me inspiration.”

Through his health struggles, Eagleson has relied on his wife Sharon and driver Herbie Litt to exercise the horses, get them to the racetrack and keep him apprised of their success or failure.

“My wife has been looking after everything. She consults with me, but she’s the boss,” says Eagleson with a chuckle. “Herbie, he calls Tommy Tiger, Tommy Litt. The horse is part of his family too.”

Litt will steer Tommy Tiger from Post 6 in the first of nine $24,000 Grassroots divisions on Sunday, and Eagleson expects the pair will need some racing luck to extend their hometown win streak to three.

“We’ve got the six-hole, I’m not sure about that. I don’t know who we’re in against, but on a half-mile track when you draw bad you need a little luck,” reflects Eagleson. “I always try to race my horses conservatively. I don’t want them driven into the ground, there’s always another race.”

With a little luck Tommy Tiger could earn a share of the Grassroots glory on Sunday and a ticket to the rest of the events on the provincial calendar.

The colts open their campaign in Dresden Raceway’s second race on Sunday, and compete in every race through to the tenth. Post time for the $216,000 program is 1 p.m.

To view Sunday's entries, click here.

(OSS)