Woodstock Raceway fans were treated to seven outstanding Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots battles from the three-year-old pacing colts on Friday, including a track record performance by Officernagentleman
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Starting from Post 3, driver Randy Waples eased Officernagentleman off the gate and settled the gelding in sixth as Mach It Big and Grand Master dueled to a :27 opening quarter. As Eastend Eddie stepped out to try his hand on the front end and rang up a :56 half, Waples sent Officernagentleman up the outside on the heels of local colt Classic Call.
Classic Call, owned and trained by breeder Stephen Gillard of Tavistock, Ont., clocked the 1:24 three-quarters, but his tenure on the front end was brief as Officernagentleman rolled out three-wide and swept away to a commanding lead around the final turn. The Royal Mattjesty son powered down the stretch to a four length victory in a track record 1:54. Classic Call stayed game for second, with Mach It Big claiming the third-place share of the $24,000 Grassroots purse for trainer-driver Carl Jamieson of Princeton, Ont. and his partner Thomas Kyron of Toronto.
The time of the mile shaved more than a full second off the track record for three-year-old male pacers and was four-fifths of a second off the all-age record.
Colin Johnson of Le Gardeur, Que conditions Officernagentleman for his partners Ecurie JGV Enrg of Laval, Que., Brian Paquet of Quebec, Que. and Edward Smith of Rockwood, Ont. Through 10 starts this season the gelding has accumulated three wins and one second for earnings of $33,200. In the Grassroots season opener at Mohawk Racetrack on July 1, Officernagentleman finished second, giving him a total of 75 points toward a post season berth.
Musselsfrmbrussels scored his second straight Grassroots victory with a commanding front end performance from Post 6 in the third race. The Modern Art son rolled through fractions of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:28 on his way to a three length decision in 1:55.3. Buckleberry Finn and Theseyesrcrying paced into second and third.
Trainer Lyle MacArthur piloted Musselsfrmbrussels to his fourth win of the season for Anne and Mike Shunock of Dorchester, Ont. The colt currently sits atop the sophomore pacing colt Grassroots standings with a perfect 100 points through the first two events.
Officernagentleman was not the only colt Randy Waples piloted to the winner’s circle on Friday, the Milton, Ont. resident also guided Hi Sir to a head decision in the first split for trainer Bob McIntosh. The Sir Luck colt powered up the outside to get a head in front of Ultimate Luck, and the dueling leaders left fan favourite and pacesetter P L Earl to settle for third in the 1:55 mile.
Windsor, Ont. resident McIntosh also owns Hi Sir, who was making his first appearance of the season in the winner’s circle, adding the victory to a pair of seconds and one third to push his sophomore earnings to $26,040.
In the final Grassroots division, Lyons Elite held off a charging Some Mach Some Win to earn his first Grassroots trophy. The Life Sign colt hit the wire half a length on top in 1:54.3. Fan favourite Wit And Wisdom was two lengths back in third.
Wayne Preszcator conditions Lyons Elite for Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, Ont. and Harness Racing Cdn Elite of Ajax, Ont. Through six starts this season the colt has tallied two wins and $16,140.
The other three Grassroots trophies went home with Mach Wheel, who stopped the clock at 1:55.1 for trainer-driver Joe Hudon Jr. and Karen Hudon of Acton, Ont.; Stolen Car, who was a 1:55.3 winner for trainer Craig Barss of Baltimore, Ont. and Nurko Sokolovic of Waterloo, Ont., and Pointed Victory, who got up for a 1:56 victory on behalf of trainer Ben Wallace of Milton, Ont., Holland Racing Stable Inc. of Aurora, Ont. and John Palcit Holdings Inc. of Amherstburg, Ont.
The three-year-old pacing colts resume their Grassroots rivalry on August 11 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Woodstock Raceway wraps up its 2011 Ontario Sires Stakes season on Tuesday, August 2 with 10 exciting Grassroots battles for the two-year-old trotting fillies.
For results from Friday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodstock Raceway.
(With files from OSS)