Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings shipped into Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday evening to contest a trio of $24,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions
, and the favourites didn’t disappoint.
The opening split went to the 3-5 favourite Lyons Frank, who front-stepped to an easy win in 1:56 for driver John MacDonald and trainer Shawn Robinson. The son of Camluck-One More Kiss threw down panels of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:26.4 before finishing off his foes with a :29.1 final frame. St Lads Bounty was a little more than a length back in second while Cool And Collected rounded out the top three.
Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford, ON holds the papers on the colt, who extended his win streak to three-in-a-row with the tally. The youngster has put together a 4-2-1 record in 13 trips postward, and his bankroll stands at $34,192.
The leader in this year’s Lampman Cup standings, Brad Forward, guided Good Bad Lucky to a 1:54.2 score in the next division. The Bob McIntosh-trained son of Camluck-Our May West advanced first over en route to winning by a length over Twin B Warrior. Third prize went to Luckcamotion.
The homebred, who is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. and Dwight Stacey, made it back-to-back trips to the winner’s circle. The colt now owns a 3-1-0 record in eight appearances, and his bankroll sits at $40,075.
Driver Gord Brown and trainer Bill Robinson joined forces to win the final division with Warrawee Lad, who steamrolled to a an eight and a half-length triumph in 1:54.4. It was a lifetime best performance from the son of Million Dollar Cam-Tammy Renee Q, who defeated Southview Anand and Daleys Interest.
Frank Loyens of Denfield and Bill Loyens of Ilderton, ON share ownership on the rookie, who now owns a 3-0-2 record in eight tries. The $12,000 payday lifted his cash stash to $45,392.
The final Grassroots event of the season for the two-year-old pacing colts and geldings will take place at Western Fair Raceway on October 12. After that, the top 16 point earners will have the chance to square off in the OSS Grassroots semi-finals at Rideau Carleton Raceway on October 23.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click here.