When Powertrain was injured in a freak paddock accident as a yearling, trainer Nick Gallucci and owner-breeder George Millar did not know if the pacing colt would survive, let alone go on to make a start in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Millar Farms broodmare manager Steven Samis, Powertrain made a full recovery and on June 17, 2021 he made his racing debut, recording a 1:51.2 victory against other novice pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Eleven days later he made a second start and delivered an impressive 1:49.3 victory.
As a result of those efforts, when Powertrain stepped onto the racetrack for the 3-year-old pacing colt Grassroots season opener on Saturday (July 10), Woodbine Mohawk Park fans sent him as their top choice. As he has done since recovering from his injury, Powertrain exceeded the expectations of his Stouffville, Ont. connections and powered down the stretch to a one-length victory in 1:50.1. Pacesetter Jimmy Connor B finished second and YS Do It Right was 11 lengths back in third.
“Everybody at the farm, all the staff, we’ve all been really excited about the horse,” said Gallucci. “It’s kind of a miracle that he’s come this far. It makes it even that much more special for everybody.”
With wins in all three of his starts, Gallucci said the son of Shadow Play and Mmillion Blue Chip may be looking at the Gold Series for his second start in the provincial stakes program. The second Grassroots Leg goes postward on July 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park while the Gold Series colts meet up at Georgian Downs on July 25.
“We’ll see how he comes out of this race and then we’ll make a decision, but I’ve always thought of him to be a Gold horse. I just didn’t really think he was quite ready to butt heads with Bulldog Hanover and the likes of those ones that raced up here last Saturday (July 3), so I just kind of took the, I guess you’d call it the more scared approach, and just tried to build the horse’s confidence a little bit more,” said Gallucci. “Right now he seems like everything we ask of him he’s doing, far exceeding our expectations at this point. He’s just a really fun horse to have right now and hopefully he can keep it together for the year. I think he’s a pretty remarkable horse, so we’ll see what he can do in the future.”
The Millar Farms team was not finished visiting the winner’s circle after Powertrain’s win. The group was back in front of the Woodbine Mohawk Park fans after the fourth $22,850 Grassroots division.
Guelph, Ont. resident Roy sent Cantstoplying right after the lead from post 7 and had taken command before the :55.4 half. Comfortably in front at the 1:24.1 three-quarters, Cantstoplying drew away from the field of 11 to a 1:52.1 victory. Bettors Donttell finished 2 3/4 lengths behind the favourite in second and Twin B Powerball completed the top three.
“He’s always shown lots of ability, but at two he was immature and couldn’t quite get everything together. Training, we would never be able to put him on the front in his set,” said Gallucci. “Now that he’s 3, he is really starting to put everything together. He knows what his job is and he likes doing it. He seems to be improving every start.”
The win was Cantstoplying’s third of the sophomore season and his second overall in the Grassroots program. He won one leg as a 2-year-old and finished fifth in the Grassroots Championship.
Favourite Proline opened Saturday’s program with a 2 1/4-length win in the first $22,850 division, stopping the teletimer in a personal best 1:52. Saltwater Savage finished second and Premier Nacho was third.
“I was happy with his performance. First-up is not his trip, so to get a win is great,” said driver Bob McClure of the gelding’s move up the outer lane to reel in the leaders.
Guelph resident McClure drives the Sportswriter colt for trainer Luc Blais of Campbellville, Ont. and owner Determination of Montreal, Que. A two-time Grassroots winner at 2, Proline finished second in the Grassroots Championship to current Gold Series competitor Second Bruiser.
In the third division, Century Heineken was barely within hailing distance of the rest of the field when he tripped the teletimer at 1:51.4 for driver Doug McNair. Between I N U and Cadillac Bayama finished 5 3/4 lengths behind the favourite.
“He’s coming around; he’s starting to learn how to race. He used to be hard to handle, but he’s starting to relax,” said Guelph, Ont. resident McNair. “He has a big motor.”
“We’ve got an open bridle on him, he was wanting to do things quicker than we wanted to do them,” added trainer Gregg McNair. “He’s a real nice horse at home. He’s aggressive enough sometimes in a race, or even sometimes warming up if there’s a lot of horses around you, but overall he sure is a nice horse.”
Father and son train and drive, respectively, Century Heineken for Ross Family Farms Ltd. of Wingham, Ont. Like Powertrain, Century Heineken did not race at 2. Through six sophomore starts, the son of Bettors Delight now has three wins and two seconds to his credit.
Another father and son team captured the last $22,850 division. Carl and Jody Jamieson teamed with No Plan Intended, who rang most of the fractions on their way to a 1:52.2 victory. Century Hannibal was 1 1/4 lengths back in second and Stonebridge Rex was three more lengths back in third.
“He’s missed about a month, but Dad had him ready for tonight,” said driver Jody Jamieson. “He needed a big effort to win a Grassroots and he gave one.”
Up The Credit son No Plan Intended was a two-time Grassroots winner at 2 and Saturday’s win was his fourth in six sophomore starts.
Next on Woodbine Mohawk Park’s Ontario Sires Stakes calendar are the 3-year-old pacing fillies, making their debut in Grassroots action on Monday (July 12). Fans can download a program and watch the live stream on the racetrack’s website and those who wish to attend in person can make a reservation here.
(Ontario Sires Stakes)
Wheels On Fire upped his win streak in the evening's co-featured event, a $34,000 Preferred. To read more about that race, click here.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.