Six divisions of two-year-old trotting colts put on an exciting show during Ontario Sires Stakes Super Sunday at Clinton Raceway.
Gonna Fly trotted into the Clinton oval’s history books with a 2:02.2 track record in the second $18,000 division, taking command in the backstretch and pulling away to a four and one-quarter length victory over Eyeseenow and Cooper. Arthur, Ont. resident Trevor Henry crafted the win for trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, Ont.
“He trained down no problems whatsoever. I don’t think he hardly even made a break the whole time training down,” said McIntosh of the homebred Gonna Fly. “He’s super gaited and super good on the half-mile track, he can trot the turns faster than he can trot a straightaway.
“I wish all the races were on a half,” added the trainer with a chuckle. “He’s a handy little cat on a half.”
McIntosh and Earl Hill Jr. of Ohsweken, Ont. share ownership of Kadabra colt Gonna Fly, who peeled two-fifths of a second off the former track record, set by Oratorio in 2006.
Local colt Warrawee Rob captured the third Grassroots division for trainer Heather Toll of Dungannon, Ont. and owners Janet and Murray Bradshaw’s 574238 Ontario Inc. of Waterford. Starting from post two, the Angus Hall son and driver Scott Coulter roared out to a seven-length lead before the :29.4 quarter, reached the half in 1:01.3 and the three-quarters in 1:33.4, and dug in down the stretch to secure the three-quarter length victory in 2:04.2.
“He gets a little bit aggressive, I guess you could say. He knows his job and it’s his home track, so I figured he’d probably leave a little bit,” said Toll. “At the three-quarters he kind of came back to Scott, because that’s the way he usually does when we train him, and then when he sees the other one coming he digs back in.”
Toll and the Bradshaws were joined in the winner’s circle by a number of family and friends, who all enjoyed Ontario Sires Stakes Super Sunday at Clinton, which featured giveaways, the “Guess with Jess” trivia contest and an opportunity to drive a racehorse.
“The people from Seelster’s all came down today because of Heineken [Seelster], and they came back to the barn, and they were really happy and just loved the environment in Clinton,” said Toll, whose other colt, Heineken Seelster, finished fifth behind Gonna Fly. “It’s friendly, it’s an open atmosphere and everybody gets along. It’s fun, the kids can come and swim in the pool because it’s free, and it’s a nice relaxing day for people to come and enjoy the business, which is great.
“Everybody coming out today was a great thing,” she continued.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Ginger Road, Wildwild Men, The Land Shark and Muscle Time.
Ginger Road kicked off the afternoon’s festivities with a 2:04.2 victory for driver Lorne House of Ingersoll, Ont., trainer Fred Jamieson of Putnam, Ont., and his partners Renato Confortin of London, Ont. and Karl Empey of Mossley, Ont. The Holiday Road gelding bested favourite Holiday Bro and Leroys Dream.
Fan favourite Wildwild Men moved into a tie for top spot in the division point race with his 2:06.2 triumph over Terrain Seelster and Kronwall in the fourth division. Robert Shepherd of Cambridge, Ont. engineered the 10 and one-half length win for trainer Isabelle Darveau of Cambridge, Ont. and owners Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel, Que. and Chantal Gravel of St.-Cyrille-de-Wendover, Que. Second in the Grassroots season opener, the Muscle Mass son now boasts a point tally of 75.
Driver Alfie Carroll of Iona Station, Ont. piloted The Land Shark to a 2:05.2 win in the fifth division for trainer Richard Moreau of Puslinch, Ont. and his partner from 9099 3833 Quebec Inc. of Sorel-Tracy, Que. The Manofmanymissions colt reeled in pacesetter United BI and pocket-sitter Bipartisan Hanover in the stretch to earn the quarter-length victory, his first.
Petrolia, Ont. resident Darryl Laver steered Muscle Time to a gritty neck victory in the final division, hitting the wire in a gelding record of 2:02.4, a neck in front of JLs Bad Moon Risin and Bow Ties N Bourbon. Laver bred, owns and trains Muscle Time, who is a Muscle Mass son out of his $324,264 winning race mare Spare Time Rozie.
The two-year-old trotting colts make their third Grassroots appearance at Mohawk Racetrack on July 28.
Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Clinton Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 9 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old pacing fillies.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(With files from OSS)