Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings were out in full force Saturday evening at Kawartha Downs, as the oval hosted four divisions of OSS Grassroots events for the youngsters.
Lovedbythemasses rallied for a 2:00.4 score in the opening division for the duo of driver Doug Hie and trainer Ed Peconi, Jr. The son of Muscle Mass-Incredibility came first-over on the way to the half and cleared in the backstretch. He took them past the three-quarter pole in 1:31.3 before using a :29.1 final frame to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Remember Titans. Our Van Gogh was a distant third in the break-filled affair.
Wade Peconi, Nicholas Peconi and Ed Peconi, Jr. share ownership on the gelding who won at first asking. The homebred has banked $11,400 to date.
Fit Bitt captured his $22,800 assignment in 2:00.3 for the team of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Bob McIntosh.
Henry got away third with the homebred before moving him to the front in the second quarter. Fit Bitt led past middle panels of 1:00.1 and 1:30.4 before sealing the deal with a :29.4 closing quarter. He won by two lengths over Rubbleonthedouble, with Aussie Lover rounding out the top three finishers.
He boasts a 1-1-0 record from his first two trips to the track for the partnership of the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc and C S X Stables. He’s banked over $17,000 in the process.
Chocolate Pie turned a two-hole trip into a narrow triumph in the third division for driver Doug Brown.
The son of Archangel-Pine Nut tracked Tuscan Titan through fractions of :29, :59.3 and 1:29.4 before popping out of the pocket and using a :30.1 closing quarter to win by a head over Awsomedabra in 2:00.1. Tuscan Titan weakened late and was forced to settle for third prize.
Owned and trained by Kyle Bossence of Arthur, Ont., Chocolate Pie won for the first time in three career tries. The colt, who was a $17,000 purchase from last year’s London Selected Yearling Sale, has banked over $13,000 to date.
Ripped And Ready was the star of the show thanks to his 13-1/4 length blowout score in the $23,150 final division.
Per Henriksen hustled the Richard Moreau pupil to the lead from Post 2 and together they led the field through fractions of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:27.4. A :29.3 closing quarter was more than enough for the colt to defeat race favourite Gamblin Road and French Twist. The time for the mile was 1:57.2 – a mere fifth of a second from matching the track record for two-year-old trotting colts.
Dr. Ruth Irving of Russell, Ont. owns the son of Muscle Mass-Cumin who was a $37,000 purchase from last year’s London Selected Yearling Sale. The maiden-breaking score pushed his earnings to $11,575.
In addition to the OSS races, Kawartha was also the site of caretaker appreciation festivities and live music. Toronto Maple Leafs legend Darryl Sittler was in attendance and one lucky customer won an autographed Sittler jersey. Nick Boyd won the Darryl Sittler Pace and ‘Gramma Boyd’ (Nick's grandmother) is shown (below) holding on to her favourite Leaf in the winner's circle.
To view results for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Kawartha Downs.