Local trotter Daily Blog earned an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots trophy in his first provincial outing on Saturday evening, eking out a nose victory in his $24,000 division at Kawartha Downs
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The three-year-old trotting gelding and trainer-driver Roger Mayotte closed hard in the stretch to get a nose in front of pocket-sitter Here Comes Numbers and claim the 1:59.2 victory. Pacesetter Revonah Hanover faded back to third.
Mayotte conditions Daily Blog for his partners in the Just In Time Stable of Mississauga and Seabrooke Stables of Peterborough, Ont. In just four lifetime starts, the Ken Warkentin son has posted two wins and earned $20,500 for his delighted owners.
Count Strike recorded the fastest mile of the six Grassroots divisions, sprinting home to a 1:57.1 victory over early pacesetters Big Strike and Holy Kadabra.
Scott Coulter engineered the Striking Sahbra son’s new personal best for owners Harness Racing Canada 12 of Ajax, trainer Wayne Preszcator of Exeter, Shawn Dixon of London, Ont. and William Seplowe of Westbury, New York. Through 10 starts the chestnut colt now has eight wins and one second for earnings of $36,520.
Major Herbie also lowered his personal best with a 1:57.3 effort in the first division, reaching the wire two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Psychic Turmoil and Dukecrest.
The Here Comes Herbie son is trained and driven by Wayne Henry for his partners in the Henry Stable of Arthur and Dan McCann of Parkhill, Ont. A multiple Grassroots winner at two, Major Herbie has three wins, one second and one third under his belt through six sophomore starts.
Last year’s Grassroots champion Tamarind served notice that he is prepared to defend his title with a two and three-quarter victory in Race 4. Fresh from an appearance in the Goodtimes Final at Mohawk Racetrack on June 24, Tamarind cruised to a 1:58.2 score over P L Eureka and Assignment.
Gord Brown piloted the Angus Hall son to his seventh lifetime victory for trainer Mark Steacy and owners Landmark III Racing Stable of Elginburg, David Reid of Glenburnie and Stan Klemencic of Trenton, Ont.
Frill Seeker dominated the field in the fifth Grassroots division, rocketing home eight lengths ahead of his peers in 1:57.2 to earn just his second lifetime victory.
Doug Brown handled the lines on the Angus Hall gelding for trainer Ron Waples Jr. and owner Ebbsfleet Stables of Stratford, Ont. Idle Time and Northern Cato completed the triactor behind Frill Seeker.
The final Grassroots division of the evening went to Mike Saftic and Traverse Seelster, who cruised home four and one-quarter length winners in 1:58. Bruce The Brave and Mandinga picked up the second and third-place shares.
Frank O’Reilly trains Traverse Seelster for Franco Cianci of St-Laurent and Isidoro Russo of Montreal, Que. Through seven starts the Angus Hall gelding now has three wins, two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $44,820.
The three-year-old trotting colts make the second stop on their Grassroots circuit at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday, July 7, the same day the two-year-old trotting colts arrive at Kawartha Downs for their very first Gold Series event.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.
(OSS)