An army of three-year-old trotting colts and geldings marched into battle at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening, as the oval played host to six O.S.S. Grassroots divisions
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Hall of Fame driver Doug Brown took the first two divisions thanks to wins with Watkins and Santo Domingo.
Watkins, who turned out to be the fastest of the O.S.S. winners on the card, survived a first-over journey to take his assignment in 1:56.2. The son of Striking Sahbra-Sarong Hall held on to win by a neck over a very determined Keystone Swagger (Mike Saftic). The third prize was earned by Pointe To Pointe (Wayne Henry).
Idylwood Stables Inc of Peterborough and Watkins Equine Inc. of Newcastle, ON share ownership on the gelding, who hangs his harness bag in the barn of Dr. Pete Johnston. The homebred extended his winning streak to four-in-a-row, and the $12,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $59,874.
One race earlier Brown clicked with Santo Domingo in a career-best clocking of 1:57.4. The son of Amigo Hall-Victory Lady emerged from the pocket and drew off to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Zorgwijk Knight (Ted McDonald). Icarus Kemp (Mark Steacy) grabbed the show dough.
Norm Campbell conditions the winner of $26,700 for the partnership of Jalade Investments Ltd, Deanmar Sons Stable, Peter Miskolczi and Dalmet Farms Holdings Inc.
After some near misses in recent weeks, Krakatoa got all the marbles in the third division for the team of driver Mike Saftic and trainer Gregg McNair. The Amigo Hall-Pretty Muscles colt rallied to the lead at the three-quarter pole and drew off to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:58. Sombrero Hall (Steve Byron) held on to finish second and Oaxaca (Doug Brown) came on late to finish third.
Owned and bred by Bloomingwood Farms Ltd of Harriston, ON, Krakatoa won for the second time this season and for the fifth time in his career. He went over $90,000 in career earnings with the win.
Rehab Mountain, who was unraced as a rookie, picked up a maiden-breaking score in the fourth division for trainer/driver Merv Chupp. The Duke Of York-Dukeholm Glory gelding used a :29.3 final quarter to propel himself to the 1:59.3 triumph over P L Debonair (Gord Brown) and Bi Barrister (Paul Walker).
Chupp Racing Stable Inc of Cambridge, ON owns the career winner of $22,000, who was purchased for $22,000 from the 2008 Forest City Yearling Sale.
Daring Dreamer also used off-the-pace tactics to earn his way to victory lane. The son of Striking Sahbra-Victory Dreamer only needed a :30.2 final quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.2 for driver Per Henriksen and owner/trainer Ann Karin Larsen of Norwood, ON. C J D Sale (Marcel Barrieau) was next best and third prize was earned by Incredible Kadabra (Steve Byron).
The lightly raced trotter was unraced as a freshman, but as a sophomore he now owns a 2-1-0 record in just six starts. He’s closing in on $20,000 in lifetime earnings.
Anahar Chase celebrated his first stakes win thanks to a 1:59.2 decision in the final division. Driven by Mike Saftic for trainer Mike Rivest, the Oaklea Julian-Oaklea Hannah gelding drew off to win by 5-3/4 lengths in 1:59.2. Ja El Express (Paul Cameron) was second and Mc Cloud (Roy Jeffries) rounded out the top three finishers.
It was the second lifetime tally for Anahar Chase, who surpassed $30,000 in career earnings for Rivest and partners Denis Rivest and Gary Silliphant.
The next O.S.S. Grassroots event for the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will be held at Hanover Raceway on Saturday, August 14.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.