A trio of $24,000 OSS Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings were contested at Sudbury Downs on Saturday evening
, and two of the splits were taken by pacers that attended the Joe Hudon School of Racing.
Stablemates Haul Away and Raging Grin gave Hudon the training and driving double, while Lil Bit Lil Bit clicked in the other division for trainer Andrew Deleersnyder and driver Mike MacNeill.
Haul Away, a homebred son of Modern Art-Armbro Reno, got the ball rolling with a 1:59.3 score in the first split. The gelding laid down fractions of :29.3, 1:01 and 1:31 before hammering home in :28.3 en route to the 1:59.3 score. It was six lengths back to runner-up Eagle Artesian, and another length back to third-place finisher Steel Angel.
The victory was the second in four lifetime starts for Haul Away, who races for Hudon and his wife, Karen. The rookie has banked $16,720 to date.
Raging Grin, a son of Grinfromeartoear-Red Road Rage, picked up his second consecutive victory after touring the oval in 1:58. The homebred colt sat a pocket trip throughout before edging off the rail and using a :29-second final frame to post the four-length decision over Modern Valentine. Third prize went to Four Js Rustler.
Hudon and the colt’s breeder, Margaret Payne of St. Augustine, FL, share ownership on the career winner of $34,760. He has put together a 2-1-2 record in his first five assignments.
The quickest OSS winner was Lil Bit Lil Bit, who stepped to a career-best clocking of 1:57.1 in the third division. It was the second trip to victory lane in five career tries for the son of Rambaran-Little Bit Famous. Mike MacNeill sat third with his charge for the opening half before going first-over and taking over command at the head of the lane. The pacer used a :29.4 final quarter to seal the deal by a length over Cheyenne Oxe. Warrawee Lad rounded out the top three.
Steven Deleersnyder of Windsor, ON holds the papers on the colt, who has stashed away just over $16,000 in lifetime earnings.
In other Saturday evening action at Sudbury Downs, David Dowling enjoyed a solid night at the office. He sent out three winners from his own outfit on top of winning the $11,000 Preferred Trot with the Mike Noble-trained Zorgwijk Fortunate in 1:59.1.
Dowling’s other winners were No Competition (1:55.1), Tenerife (1:57.1) and Hey Hey My My (1:57.2).
To view Saturday’s results, click here.