Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots trophies were up for grabs at Hanover Raceway on Saturday night, and Walkerton native Randy Fritz grabbed the first one, piloting Northern Kingdom to a four length victory
.
Northern Kingdom led the field of two-year-old trotting colts from start to finish, sailing under the wire in 2:05.1. Fritz engineered the victory for trainer Ron O’Neill and owners Scott and Barbara Edwards of Alto, Michigan.
An $18,000 yearling purchase from last fall’s Forest City Sale, Northern Kingdom is a half-brother to $277,981 winner Its My Time, who was a Gold elimination winner at three, and $317,806 winner Aisling. The son of Kadabra and Heaven Tonight prepared for his Grassroots debut with a 2:05.2 qualifying effort at Hazel Park on June 30.
Keystone Orion and Canadian Wildcat rounded out the top three in the first $24,000 Grassroots division.
In the fourth race Count Speed clocked the quickest win of the four divisions, sprinting home to a 2:02.4 score over pacesetter Hallucination. Remsheg Julian was well back in third.
Trainer Mark Steacy piloted Count Speed to the victory for owners Landmark IV Racing Stable of Elginburg, Ont., David McDonald of Cornwall, Ont., Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, Alta. and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. of Ossining, New York. The partners purchased the Majestic Son colt from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, anteing up $50,000 for the youngster. Like Northern Kingdom, Count Speed qualified once before arriving in Hanover, delivering a 2:03.3 effort at Mohawk Racetrack on June 28.
Trainer-driver Joe Hudon captured the third Grassroots split with House Money, reaching the wire four and one-quarter lengths on top in 2:05.2. Jayport Spiker trotted into second, with Bell Spur three more lengths back in third.
Acton, Ont. resident Hudon and R A W Equine Inc. of Burlington, Ont. acquired House Money for $55,000 from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. The Angus Hall son logged a 2:01.3 effort in his June 24 qualifier, touring over a soggy Mohawk Racetrack oval.
The final Grassroots trophy went home with Strike The Cheque, who reached the finish two lengths ahead of Southwind Nazareth and Warrawee Nimby in 2:05.3. Ross Battin drove the Striking Sahbra son to the win for trainer Mike Keeling of Cambridge, Ont. and his partners Ronald Keeling of Owen Sound, Ont. and Paula Wellwood of Cambridge, Ont.
The Keeling’s bred Strike The Cheque, who is the second foal from their former Ontario Sires Stakes competitor Cheque Lavec.
The two-year-old trotting colts make their second Grassroots appearance at Clinton Raceway on July 24.
In other action, the Hanover Raceway Claiming Series wrapped up on Saturday with the Rick Kilmer-owned and trainer Miss Kaylee Em delivering a career-best 1:56.4 victory in the $12,600 final in rein to Bruce Richardson. The six-year-old Rambaran mare advanced first up to score her fifth consective victory by two and a quarter lengths. Opera Mystic and Greystone Fantasy finished second and third.
In addition to the on-track performances, Hanover Raceway fans were also treated to the first 'Win The Thrill' draw of the year. Joyce Parker of Harriston, Mary Breadner of Owen Sound, Scott Davis of Owen Sound, Doug Struthers of Kincardine, Dan Casemore of Hanover, John McLean of Tara, and Kevin Stubbington of Southampton were all selected as finalists in the Win The Thrill race, and all have the opportunity to enter the Grand Prize draw at the Oct. 1 Grassroots Championships. The Grand Prize winner will receive one share in the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association’s New Owner Mentoring Program.
The excitement of the Ontario Sires Stakes Win The Thrill contest returns on Saturday, Aug. 6 when the three-year-old trotting colts arrive in Hanover for their third Grassroots event.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from OSS)