Six divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots went to the gate on Tuesday evening, July 30 for freshman guys and gals with six different trainers and six different drivers returning to the winner's circle.
There were three divisions for each gender as the second leg of the series and each split was worth a $20,000 purse. Freshman colt and gelding trotters meet again on Aug. 9 at Kawartha Downs while freshman filly trotters reconvene on Aug. 6 at Mohawk for their respective third legs.
Hay Dad topped all of the OSS action with a 1:56.4 score, the quickest mile time of all six divisions. Bob McClure held the lines for trainer Mark Etsell.
McClure sent the Muscle Mass - Hay Darlene gelding to the top and ignored the pocket opening to bypass leading P L Spencer (Louis-Philippe Roy). After the opening quarter in :28.3, Hay Dad found comfort along the pylons in the lead and he maintained an open lead over his foes. He was up by 1-1/2 lengths at the :58 half, 3-1/2 lengths at the 1:27.3 three quarters, and continued on to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4. The Bear A Cuda (James MacDonald) finished second with Modelo Gold (Dagfin Henriksen) third.
Terry Devos, Peter Porter, and James Whelan co-own the two-year-old gelding. After a second in his career debut, Hay Dad recorded his first lifetime win. As the bettors' choice, he returned $3.40 to win.
Hp Lucas ($33.80) posted a 16-1 upset in one division of the OSS Grassroots. Tyler Borth was the conductor of the win in 1:58.3 by 1-3/4 lengths for trainer Benoit Baillargeon. Breeders Claude Hamel and Danielle Fournier-Levesque co-own the Alarm Detector - Hp Run Like Mom gelding.
Wendell Blue Chip ($10.50) and Doug McNair overcame post 10 in the final OSS Grassroots split for trotting colts and geldings, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3. Jared Bako trains the Green Manalishi S - Aurova Hanover gelding for Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc and Daniel Zucker.
Wells Fargo ($17.60) zipped to the swiftest time for the two-year-old trotting fillies, a triumph in 1:57.2 by 1-1/2 lengths with pilot Jonathan Drury on board. Trained by Shawn Steacy, the daughter of Muscle Mass and the Conway Hall mare Wheely Quick is owned by Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc., Landmark 17 Racing Stable, Robert Gilhespy and Diane Bertrand.
Sylvain Filion drove Jean Tourigny's student Ivy Lynn ($3.30) to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:57.4. The Green Manalishi S - Marion Mayflower filly is owned by Jean Mondoux.
Core Resolve ($8) completed the action for the young ladies with a 1:58.4 score by three-quarters of a length. James MacDonald sat in the seat of the Resolve - Apple Magic filly for trainer Matthew Bax and owners Bax Stable, Big Als Stables, Neil Miller and Don Allensen.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)