Fans at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening were treated to a 12-race program, with half of the card dedicated to two-year-old trotting colts
and geldings of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots level.
Snoopy Duke kicked things off for the rookies by pulling off a 6-1 upset in his $24,000 assignment. Sophie Desroches conditions the son of Duke Of York-Oaklea Nevada, who survived a parked out journey to stop the clock in 2:02.4 with Simon Allard in tow. Allard, who shares ownership on the colt with his brother, Rene, eked out a three-quarters-of-a-length decision over Angus King, while Euro Zone rounded out the top three. With the victory, Snoopy Duke more than covered his $5,500 price tag from last year’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale.
Zorgwijk Knight, who was collared for $3,500 at last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale, took home the trophy in the second division. The son of Armbro Ricochet-Zorgwijk Delicate, who was sent off at odds of 7-1, marched to the front for driver Paul MacKenzie and never looked back en route to winning by a neck over race favourite Text Me in 2:01. Beckham Seelster rounded out the top three. Blake Curran conditions the youngster, who was making his second start, for owners Tracy Curran of Burlington and Bob Curran of Smiths Falls, ON.
Mike Saftic stayed on Rodeo well beyond the eight-second point to take the third Grassroots division. In fact, the son of Kadabra-Pretty Icy enjoyed a two-hole trip behind Schuyler for the majority of the mile before blowing past that foe en route to a 2:01.3 score. The Gregg McNair pupil drew off to win by more than two lengths over Julians Caesar, while Schuyler weakened and wound up third. It was a winning debut for the homebred, who is owned by Bloomingwood Farms Ltd. of Harriston, Ontario.
Hava Kadabra celebrated a maiden-breaking victory in the fourth split for the duo of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Mark Steacy. The son of Kadabra-Armbro Vixen, who sold for $20,000 at last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale, sat third for most of the mile before rolling to the lead in the late stages of the mile and driving away to win by more than two lengths in a time of 2:02. Bare Knuckles set the pace and stayed for second, while Kaiser grabbed the show dough. Landmark II Racing Stable, David Reid, Stan Klemencic and Diane Bertrand share ownership on the freshman, who was sent off as the 3/2 favourite.
Scotty Doesnt Know and the birthday boy Ron Waples, prevailed in the fifth division. The Waples Stables Inc.’s homebred son of Malabar Maple-Lukes Ronda, who races for trainer John Drennan, rocketed to the top shortly after the quarter-pole and from that point on it was lights out for the competition. The colt roared away to win by more than five lengths in his maiden voyage in a time of 2:00.3 – the quickest of the Tuesday’s divisions. L M Expresso was second and third prize went to Kenny My Boy.
Driver Steve Byron and trainer John Bax teamed up to take the last split with the regally-bred rookie Fire Meets Ice. The son of Striking Sahbra-Crown Starlet is a brother to a pair of big money winners in Forever Starlet (1:55.4 - $797,497) and Sir Perseverance (1:52.4- $726,918). Byron kept his charge planted in the two-hole throughout the first half of the contest before brushing to the lead and drawing off to win by more than four lengths in 2:01.3. In The Bank was next best and Merlincrest was third. Breeder Al Libfeld shares on the homebred with Steven Kazman of Thornhill, Ontario.
The next stop for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on the OSS Grassroots trail will be Sudbury Downs on Sunday, August 2.
To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click here.