The father and son duo of Gregg and Doug McNair proved unstoppable on the 13-race card on Monday, July 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning five on the night including a pair of $30,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots splits for rookie pacing colts.
The Grassroots divisions served as the final three races on the evening, by which time Doug McNair had already steered a trio of winners home for his father with conditioned victories aboard Barbara May ($3.50, 1:54), Cher Hill ($8.50, 1:53.3) and Massbar ($14.70, 1:54.3).
The McNair's continued their domination on the evening in the second Grassroots division, with TH Theo breaking his maiden in his third career outing.
Away from post six as the even-money favourite, TH Theo settled into the pocket spot on the first turn while Mark The Mechanic (Louis-Philippe Roy) cut the quarter in :27.2. TH Theo brushed to the lead on the backstretch, taking command prior to the half in :57.3 before taking the field to three-quarters in 1:26.4.
Doug McNair began to ask TH Theo for more at the head of the lane while Mark The Mechanic took aim from the pocket and Just Keep Flying (Trevor Henry) beginning to rally in the middle of the track. TH Theo would hold sway on the lead, winning by three parts of a length in 1:54.4 over Just Keep Flying and Mark The Mechanic.
The winning son of Cattlewash-Sports Check has now banked $25,240 for owners Frank Brundle of East Garafraxa, Ont., Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont., and Jeffrey Skinner of Hammonds Plains, N.S.
C Script followed suit of his stablemate, scoring on the front-end in the finale to remain perfect in his career taking the final Grassroots division.
C Script left from the rail has the 3-5 favourite, getting away in third while Aussie Pharoah (Louis-Philippe Roy) charged to the lead through a first-quarter in :28.1. Cheddarlucknxttime (James MacDonald) moved to the lead from second on the backstretch, but was immediately covered back up by C Script as he moved to the engine at the half in :56.4. Moving around the final turn, Cheddarlucknxttime moved back to the outside while Odds On Hoaxster (Pete Wrenn) charged first-over into third while C Script reached three-quarters in 1:25.2.
C Script countered and quickened as the field straightened away for home, powering home in :26.4 to reach the wire 2-1/4 lengths clear in 1:52.1. Cheddarlucknxttime narrowly held off Odds On Hoaxster for the place position.
The clocking was a new career best for C Script, who is now three-for-three to begin his career. The homebred son of Sportswriter-Shark Hanover is owned by Gregg McNair of Guelph, Ont., McKinlay & Fielding of Gravenhurst, Ont., M&S Racing Stable Inc. of Rockwood, Ont., and Dr. Chris Robson of Grand Bend, Ont.
Team McNair had to settle for second in the first Grassroots split with The Swooper, as Big D Energy and driver Mark MacDonald swung wide in the lane and uncorked a :26.3 last quarter to win by three lengths in 1:52.1. Herbert Holland trains the winning Control The Moment-Arm In Arm gelding, who was bred and co-owned by J J J Stables of North Vancouver, B.C. and Jim Marino of Surrey, B.C.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of C Script winning on July 20)