With early season division winners Hope For Justice and Aggressive lined up beside him on the starting gate, Grand River Raceway fans gave Tothepointe James very little consideration in the fifth Gold Series division on Monday evening.
Trainer-driver Wayne Henry however, ignored the 32-to-1 odds and sent the Deweycheatumnhowe son after the lead as soon as the wings folded. Tothepointe James reached the opening quarter in :30 and sailed on to a 1:00.2 half and a 1:31 three-quarters before accelerating away from the field of two-year-old trotting colts to an eight and three-quarter length victory in 2:00.2. Illseeuincourt and Global Reality completed the top three.
Fan favourite Hope For Justice made an early break that knocked him out of the action and Aggressive skipped off stride at the three-quarter marker and finished sixth. The result was a $2 win payout of $66.50, and exactor, triactor and superfecta payouts that returned $2,460, $7,227 and $10,721 respectively. And, because of a large percentage of the show pool being wagered on Hope For Justice, Tothepointe James, Illseeuincourt and Global Reality paid $95.70, $158.60 and $117.80 respectively to show.
Arthur resident Henry shares ownership of Tothepointe James with the Estate of Daniel McCann of Parkhill, Jeff Thomson of Chesley and Arnold Feldman of Cote Saint-Luc, QC. The half-brother to $485,018 winner Pointe Of Honour, the 2008 freshman trotting colt Super Final champion, was a $25,000 purchase at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale.
Wayne Henry was not the only member of his family to score a Gold Series win at Grand River Raceway on Monday, brother Trevor Henry eked out a nose victory in the sixth race with pacesetter Special Agent Man. The Federal Flex son held off favourite Great White Way and Deweykeepumnwhy to score the 2:01.1 win.
Richard Moreau trains Special Agent Man for Ecuries Richelieu Inc of Venise-en-Quebec, QC.
See The Wind survived a first-over trip en route to an impressive victory in his division. The son of Deweycheatumnhowe-Platinum Power came first-over on Dream Rocker, who supplied the speed, and simply marched away from him and others by 3-1/2 lengths. Massive Pockets grabbed the runner-up award, with Dream Rocker nabbing the show dough.
Sylvain Filion mapped out the winning trip for the Chris Beaver trainee, who closed at the 8-5 favourite. Beaver shares ownership on the colt with Synerco Ventures Inc of Toronto and Wilbur S. Lang of Jamestown, OH.
Utopia went to the front and didn’t look back en route to posting a 2:00.1 victory in his $35,000 assignment. With Jody Jamieson at the lines, the gelding carved out panels of :30.1, 1:01.1 and 1:31 before roaring home in :29.1 to win by a length over Massive Muscles. It was another length back to third-place finisher Windsun Revenge.
Robbie Robinson trains the son of Mutineer-Brontease for owner Keith Cassell of Smiths Falls, ON. The youngster, who was a $2,700 purchase out of last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, has posted a win and a second-place finish to start his career. His earnings now stand at $28,000.
Odds-on favourite Mr Lover prevailed in his division despite being subjected to a first-over trip. The son of Deweycheatumnhowe-Norway No Day got away fourth before pulling first-over on British Steel, who wound up leading the group through fractions of :29, :59.3 and 1:31.3 before making a break. That allowed Mr Lover to claim the lead and draw clear of the field by two lengths in 2:01.3. SAS Warkentin was next best, with Hetties Commander rounding out the top three.
Stephane Larocque trains the homebred, who is now 2-for-2 to start his career, for owner/breeder Ecuries R L Belanger of Laval, QC. His earnings jumped to $38,500 with the win.
Jitterbug pulled off a 9-1 upset in his division for the tandem of driver Mike Saftic and trainer Marcel Barrieau. The colt sat in mid-pack for the first half of the mile, but he started chipping away at the leaders in the back half of the contest before eventually rallying to the one-length score over Patriots Path in 2:00. Verdi completed the Triactor ticket.
The son of Kadabra-Jodis Jayme is owned by Barrieau and his Quebec-based partners Conrad Leber and Gestion Mastel Inc. It was a maiden-breaking win for the youngster, who was a $39,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. He’s already banked $22,540 thanks to the 1-0-1 record he’s assembled in his first two outings.
The top 20 two-year-old trotting colts make their next start in the Gold Series Mid-Summer Challenge at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday, Aug. 5.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement also continues at Grand River Raceway on Monday, Aug. 5, when the three-year-old pacing fillies warm up the enthusiastic Industry Day crowd for the Battle of Waterloo and Battle of the Belles Finals.
(With files from the OSS)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Grand River Raceway.