Kawartha Downs fans sent local colt Summer Indian off as the heavy favourite in his Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division on Saturday evening and the trotter delivered, controlling the sixth race from start to finish.
Starting from Post 4 driver Stephen Byron sent Summer Indian straight to the front and the three-year-old trotting gelding was four lengths ahead of his peers by the :28.3 quarter. Through a :59.3 half and a 1:28.4 three-quarters, Summer Indian never faced a challenge, sailing home a one length winner in 1:58.3. R Raised Emotions followed Summer Indian around the Kawartha oval into second and Oaklea Umpire was seven lengths back in third.
Peterborough resident John Bax trains Summer Indian for his partners John Hayes of Sharon, John Houston of Cobourg, and Goin To The Show Stable of Peterborough. Saturday’s win was the Majestic Son’s third straight and boosted his sophomore earnings to $87,600. The Dream Of Glory champion started his season in the Gold Series, but has now established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the Grassroots circuit.
Ill Be There clocked the quickest mile of the seven Grassroots divisions, hitting the wire in a personal best 1:57, two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Oaklea Uptown. Pocket Passer was well back in third.
Scott Coulter engineered the victory and Clayton Miller conditions Ill Be There for Thomas Kyron of Toronto and 1140545 Ontario Ltd. of Moffat. Wednesday’s win was the Kadabra gelding’s first in seven starts this season. At two, Ill Be There was a multiple Grassroots division winner, who finished second in the season ending championship.
Cool Creek Magic picked up his second straight Grassroots victory with a 1:57.2 clocking in the first $24,000 division. Another son of Kadabra, Cool Creek Magic cruised home a one and one-half length winner over fan favourite and division point leader Our Mojo and pacesetter Jetcrest.
Anthony Haughan crafted the victory for trainer Kevin O’Reilly and owner Aristi Varsakis of Hamilton. Through 11 starts this season Cool Creek Magic now boasts six wins and one third for earnings of $46,825.
Deck The Halls also came up with a repeat win in the final Grassroots split, hitting the wire an impressive six lengths ahead of favourite Southwind Cornell and Midfield Magic. The gelding’s 1:59.1 clocking was a new personal best.
Sylvain Lacaille trains and drives Deck The Halls for Reve Avec Moi/Dreamwithme of Grand Valley and has sent the Angus Hall son behind the gate five times this season, netting three wins, one second and earnings of $28,725.
The other Grassroots trophies were captured by Remsheg Julian, piloted to a 1:58.2 win by Gord Brown; Back To Peace, who went gate-to-wire in 1:59 with Mike Saftic aboard; and Canadian Wildcat, who kept a head in front at the wire to secure the 2:00.4 win for trainer-driver Mark Steacy.
The three-year-old trotting colts and geldings meet up at Clinton Raceway on August 19 for the second last Grassroots event of the regular season. Kawartha Downs wraps up its 2012 Ontario Sires Stakes season with the three-year-old pacing fillies, who will battle for Grassroots glory next Thursday, Aug. 16.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.
(With files from OSS)