Out Of Ice turned on the jets late to rebuff a stern first-over bid from Bruno No No No for a decisive 1:51.3 triumph in the first of two $25,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for three-year-old male pacers on Saturday, Aug. 2 at Hiawatha Horse Park. Fifth And Five likewise proved a steadfast winner in the second split, scoring in 1:53.1 to give driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Carl Jamieson a sweep of the evening's featured races.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite in the opening division, Out Of Ice landed in third through a :27.2 first quarter before Jody Jamieson brushed him clear of Dancininthefire (Austin Sorrie) with a circuit to go. After pulling the tempo back through a :29.1 second sectional, Out Of Ice faced an outside bid from Bruno No No No (Garrett Rooney) midway up the backstretch and through the far turn before scorching a :55 final half to rebuff Bruno No No No by 2-3/4 lengths. Betterdealmein (Mark MacDonell) closed mildly off stalled cover for third.
Carl Jamieson co-owns Out Of Ice with George Harrison of Preston Lancashire, England, the Estate Of Brian Paquet of Quebec City, Que., and 1140545 Ontario Ltd. of Guelph, Ont. Now a six-time career winner and six-figure earner, the Hes Watching-Warrawee Star gelding paid $2.40 to win in his fourth Grassroots score this year.
Another 1-5 choice delivered to complete the Jamieson Grassroots double as Fifth And Five rose to a persistent challenge from Silverwalls before using :27.2 stretch speed to record his fourth consecutive win.
In a change of tactics from recent starts, the Bettors Delight-Filou Fly Fast colt was sent for the lead at race's outset, clearing Grin And Win (Anthony Haughan) to control a :27.1 first quarter before slamming on the brakes through middle splits of :57.3 and 1:25.4. Heading toward the far turn, Silverwalls (Garrett Rooney) pushed forward out of third to engage the leader, but Fifth And Five shrugged off that challenger turning for home and won by a widening 2-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1. Grin And Win reclaimed second over a tiring Silverwalls, who faded to third.
Fifth And Five is seven-time career winner closing in on a quarter-million dollars in earnings for Carl Jamieson and partners 1140545 Ontario Ltd. of Guelph, Ont., and Trevor Edwardsof Kirkton, Ont. He paid $2.70 to win in his third Grassroots score this year.
Jody Jamieson also picked up a winning catch-drive in the evening's Prospect Series leg for sophomore male pacers with 1-5 favourite Five Star Lou ($2.50) narrowly outlasting a late bid from Intuit Big (Lorne House) to win in a lifetime best 1:54.1. Jamieson drove the Dancin Lou-Hakima gelding, last year's Prospect divisional champion and winner of three legs this season, for trainer Shawn Steacy and the partnership of Landmark 17 Racing Stable of Lansdowne, Ont., Stephen Downey of Quispamsis, N.B., Dan Mogridge of Coldwater, Ont., and Esa Lahtinen of Cambridge, Ont.
The Magic Moment ($4) made his return to Ontario a winning one in the other $8,000 Prospect division, vaulting from the pocket to eclipse pacesetter Wicked Express (Austin Sorrie) and evade runner-up Wayne Stone (Natasha Day) by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:53.4. Garrett Rooney drove the favoured Control The Moment-Wind River Cat gelding, now a winner of four consecutive races and seven overall from 11 career starts, for Shawinigan, Que. based owners Gestion A&A Belanger and Cynthia Cote Dupont. Austin McEneny took over training duties of the Quebec stakes winner for the sophomore's Prospect debut.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hiawatha Horse Park.
(Standardbred Canada)