A quartet of $24,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings were contested at Windsor Raceway on Tuesday evening, and it proved to be a tough night for the favourites
.
The opening split went to Hava Kadabra, who steamrolled to an 11-length score in a career-best clocking of 2:00.3 for the tandem of driver Dave Boughton and trainer Mark Steacy. The son of Kadabra-Armbro Vixen took over command shortly past the mid-way point and drew away from runner-up Markofdistinction and Seagram en route to posting his fourth win of the season in just nine trips postward. Landmark II Racing Stable, David Reid, Stan Klemencic and Diane Bertrand share ownership on the career winner of $55,385.
All eyes were on divisional leader Zorgwijk Knight in the second division, but Scotty Doesnt Know stole that foe’s thunder with a 2:02.2 triumph for the duo of driver Rick Zeron and trainer John Drennan. The gelded son of Malabar Maple-Lukes Elvira, who is owned by the DDT Stable of Burlington, ON, rallied in deep stretch to post the neck decision over Zorgwijk Knight. It was more than four lengths back to Krakatoa, who rounded out the top three. Scotty Doesnt Know owns a 2-3-1 record in his first six starts, and he has banked more than $75,000 to date.
Kjell Magne Anderson of Oslo, NOR and Troy Mollohan of Fowler, OH celebrated a maiden-breaking victory with Commander K in the third division. The son of Ken Warkentin-Knox Trot rallied to win by a pair of lengths for trainer/driver Torgeir Hagmann in a time of 2:01.4. Sent off at odds of 14-1, the gelding hauled down race favourite High Jingo, who made a deep stretch break and wound up second. The show dough went to Lend Rover. Purchased for $25,000 at last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, Commander K has hauled in $27,530 in his first eight assignments.
An 18-1 upset was turned in by Leslie Road and trainer/driver Larry Walker in the final event for the rookies. The homebred son of Duke Of York-Armbro Lois took over command shortly past the quarter pole and front-stepped his way to a neck decision over Pio Power in a time of 2:02.3. Third went to Northern Spark. It was the second win of the season in seven tries for the youngster who has banked $32,855 for Larry Walker Stbs Limited, Tony Holmes and Walter Zent.
The top 16 point earners in the division will head to Rideau Carleton Raceway on October 23 for this year’s OSS Grassroots Semi-Finals. The top four finishers from each of the Semi-Finals will have the chance to square off in the $100,000 OSS Grassroots Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway on November 1.
To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click here.