A quartet of $25,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots splits for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings went postward on Monday, June 22 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with the Dr. Ian Moore-trained Odds On Bullfrog capturing the quickest division with a sub-1:50 throttling to kick off the night's stakes action.
Driver Travis Henry had the call on Odds On Bullfrog, with the duo hustling off the wings from post seven as they raced to the outside of 99-1 shot Lyons Firstbulldog (Scott Coulter) in second through a sizzling :26 opening fraction. Odds On Bullfrog cleared the longshot off the first turn, easing off the accelerator to catch a breather to the halfway pole in :55. Odds On Bullfrog quickened on the final turn, racing two lengths clear at three-quarters in 1:23.2 while the 3-5 favourite, Johnny Angel (James MacDonald), gathered a head of steam first-over from the backfield and into fourth.
Johnny Angel powered into second at the head of the lane before Odds On Bullfrog countered, leaping away from the favourite with a :26.1 last quarter to assert himself by 4-1/2 on the line in 1:49.3. Johnny Angel maintained his position in second, with Lyons Firstbulldog finishing third.
The win was the first of the season in six outings for last year's Grassroots divisional champion Odds On Bullfrog, who tacked on a new career-best clocking with the effort. The Bulldog Hanover-Odds On Naples colt has now banked $107,660 for owner Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, Florida. Odds On Bullfrog returned $4.30 to win as the second choice in the wagering.
Henry visited the winner's circle once more in Grassroots action, this time with a 16-1 surprise aboard the Murray Brethour-trained Just Givener in the fourth and final division.
Leaving from the rail, Just Givener beat out the seven other colts to the first turn to dictate the fractions with a :27 opening panel. Just Givener raced to the half in :55.3 before first-over pressure came from the 14-1 Neverleaveharlan (Tyler Borth), who raced at the leader's wheel as the field reached three-quarters in 1:23.1.
Just Givener gave the field the slip turning for home, widening his lead while Neverleaveharlan remained the only one within shouting distance in the stretch. Just Givener was clear by 2-3/4 lengths when he tripped the timer in 1:50.2 over Neverleaveharlan, with 1-9 favourite Scorpion Seelster (James MacDonald) settling for third.
The win was the second of the season in eight outings for Just Givener, with the McWicked-Bettor Move Over colt pushing his career bankroll to $37,035. The effort took over three seconds off the career best of Just Givener, who is owned by Brethour of Sunderland, Ont., Danial Sarafian of Unionville, Ont., and Tony Basile of Toronto, Ont. Just Givener paid $35.70 to win.
The other two divisions on the card were also taken with career-best times. Mega Moves (Tyler Borth, $18.30 to win) took the second split in 1:50.3. Anthony Beaton of Waterdown, Ont. trains and co-owns the Dancin Lou-Megaball Hanover gelding with David Mercer of Westmount, N.S., Domenic Chiaravalle of Hamilton, Ont., and breeders Anvil And Lace Farm of Cynthiana, Kentucky.
The other division belonged to the Scott McEneny-trained Dax Seelster (Travis Cullen, $4.10), who scored in 1:51. Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. owns the Bulldog Hanover-Deb colt, a repeat winner in the Grassroots Series.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)