Reigning champion Four Wheelin returned to the Ontario Sires Stakes winner’s circle on Tuesday (Aug. 10) with a 1:54.4 personal best in the second of three $21,800 sophomore trotting colt Grassroots divisions at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Last fall’s Grassroots champion got away fourth from post 8 and watched favourite Sweet Soul David ring fractions of :28.1 and :58. Heading for three-quarters in 1:26.3, driver Louis-Philippe Roy tipped Four Wheelin out behind Harry and the pair advanced on the pacesetter. When the colts straightened for the stretch drive, Four Wheelin kicked into gear and trotted home a 1-1/2-length winner in the 1:54.4 clocking. Sweet Soul David settled for second and pocket-sitter Royal Tyrone was third.
“He raced some good. I hope he’s back to himself,” said trainer Marcel Barrieau. “Louis-Philippe is doing a great job with him. He knows him as much or better than I do, racing especially. He had a great trip tonight.”
Four Wheelin was a five-time winner in Grassroots action last season for Cambridge, Ont. resident Barrieau and his co-owner Gestion Mastel Inc. of Longueil, Que., but the trotter has been a tougher to manage this season.
“Last year he was such a nice colt, calm and everything, this year for some reason he was just kind of a bully. He was hard on himself more, so that’s why I had to change the tactics quite a bit. Now it seems like he’s come back,” said Barrieau. “I really liked his race last week (July 31), and that’s not his way of racing, off the front, but he went a decent mile in 1:55.1 and come back today with that, so it makes a fellow feel better. Sleep better at night.”
Tuesday’s win and a fourth-place result in the second Grassroots Leg give Four Wheelin a total of 58 points in the race for a Semi-Final berth, and the gelding’s connections will be hoping he can add to that total in the fourth leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Aug. 24.
Roy also captured the first $21,800 Grassroots division with Urntrouble Hanover, who swept from sixth to first in the final quarter. The Kadabra colt sat seventh through the bulk of the mile before sprinting down the stretch to collar the leaders by 3-1/2 lengths in a personal best 1:56.1. Pacesetter Diehard Seelster settled for second and Walkonthemoon was third. Favourite Dewey Deo made a break and finished last.
The Guelph resident piloted Urntrouble Hanover to his second win for trainer Clark Beelby of Campbellville, Ont. and Coyote Wynd Farms of Vancouver, B.C. Tuesday’s outing was the handsome roan gelding’s first in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.
The final $21,800 Grassroots division went to Aworldly Goodtimes and driver Trevor Henry, who took full advantage of errors by several of their peers and sprinted down the stretch to an 11-1/4-length victory in 1:55.1. Rosies War Bonds finished second and Muscle Jack was third. Favourite Mystic made a break and finished sixth.
“He’s a nice colt, good gaited and he race very well tonight,” said Henry, who was making his first appearance in the gelding’s race bike. “I think he has more in him.”
Henry engineered the win for trainer Ken Switzer and his partners in Dark Stables of Georgetown, Ont. The win was the Royalty For Life son’s second of the season and his first in Ontario Sires Stakes action. He opened his sophomore campaign with a sixth place result in the July 1 Gold Leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at the Campbellville oval on Thursday (Aug. 12) with three Grassroots divisions for the three-year-old trotting fillies. The fillies will battle in Races 2, 3, and 9 on the Thursday evening program, which also features the finals of the Pure Ivory and Millard Farms Trotting Series’ in Races 5 and 7. Fans can download a program and watch the live stream on the Woodbine Mohawk Park website or register to attend in person.
(Ontario Sires Stakes)
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.