Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings were out in full force at Flamboro Downs earlier this afternoon going head-to-head in five O.S.S. Grassroots divisions
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Bob From Brussels took over sole possession of the top spot on the leaderboard in the division thanks to his 2:00.1 score for trainer/driver Lyle MacArthur. The son of Here Comes Herbie-Nefertiti Dream came first over and drew off to win by 6-3/4 lengths over Starlitestarbrite (Trevor Henry). Tymal Lennon (Steve Byron) was a distant third in the $24,000 tilt.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the colt won for the fourth time in eight tries for owner Anne Shunock of Dorchester, ON. The youngster pushed his earnings past the $50,000 plateau while bumping his points total to 175 with the win.
Assignment nabbed his third O.S.S. trophy of the season in the opening contest for trainer/driver Ted Jacobs. The son of Ken Warkentin-Armbro Whistle pulled off a 12-1 upset by rallying to a 5-1/2 length score over P C La Mousse (Ross Battin) in a career-best clocking of 2:01.2. Muskoka (Blair Burgess) rounded out the top three finishers.
Bred and owned by Glen Campbell of Kingston, ON, Assignment improved his rookie record to 7-0-0 in eight attempts with the victory. The lion’s share of the purse pushed his earnings to $48,000.
Mr Joe Sixpack front-stepped his way to a new lifetime mark of 2:00 for the tandem of trainer Shane Arsenault and driver Scott Zeron. The Striking Sahbra-Bambino Lau colt took over command shortly past the quarter pole and drew off to win by a seven-length margin over Psychic Turmoil (Trevor Ritchie). It was another length back to third-place finisher Frenchmen (Nick Henry).
Lou Arsenault of Freelton, ON holds the ownership papers on the freshman who boasts a 2-2-0 record in six lifetime starts. He has banked in excess of $37,000 to date.
Over And Out also earned a new speed badge thanks to his 2:01.3 triumph for the duo of driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Ira Fisher. The Ken Warkentin-Divine Miss J colt sat a pocket trip throughout the majority of the mile before popping out late and scooting home to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Put Your Dukes Up (Mike Saftic). Idle Time (Joe Hudon, Jr.) took home the show dough.
Willow Pond LLC of Hewlett, NY owns the two-time winner who has racked up more than $28,000 in eight lifetime starts.
Major Herbie picked up his fourth win of the season in eight tries by taking the final division in a personal best clocking of 2:01 for trainer/driver Wayne Henry. The son of Here Comes Herbie-Independent Dame rallied from just off the pace to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Frill Seelster (Ron Waples, Jr.). Meadowview Arty (Scott Zeron) closed from far back to finish third.
Henry Stable of Arthur and Dan McCann of Parkhill, ON share ownership on the ridgling, who upped his earnings to $64,075 in the process.
The top sixteen point earners from the Grassroots program will have the chance to head to Western Fair Raceway on October 15 for the O.S.S. Grassroots Semi-Finals. The top four finishers from each of those contests will return to the half-mile oval on October 23 for the Grassroots Finals.
To view Thursday’s results, click here.