Sophomore pacing colt Rileys Luck landed his new owners in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots winner’s circle at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday evening
, sprinting home to grab a half-length victory in 1:58 over a track rated two seconds slower than normal.
After leaving from the advantageous Post 1 the Camluck colt and driver Doug McNair tucked into the pocket behind early leader Judge Jon, who reached the quarter pole in :27.3. Rileys Luck continued to sit behind Judge Jon as that colt handed the lead over to Hold Your Hat heading for the :57.1 half, and looked like he could get hemmed in as two horses rolled up on the outside heading for the 1:27.1 three-quarters.
Turning for home three and one-half lengths back in fifth, McNair was able to eke out a piece of racetrack for Rileys Luck and the colt did the rest, accelerating under the wire to the half-length victory over Judge Jon, who is trained, driven and co-owned by Guelph, Ont. resident Paul MacDonell, and Tara Micket.
Guelph resident Chris Matthews conditions Rileys Luck for John Fewster of Guelph, Thomas Warren of Burlington, Ont., Desmond Scott of Orangeville, Ont., and Douglas Lee of Hillsburgh, Ont. Since the partners acquired the colt in early August Rileys Luck has posted one win and one second in Grassroots action for earnings of $18,000. Wednesday’s win also boosted the colt’s Grassroots point tally to 87, inching him a little closer to a berth in the Grassroots post season.
Heavy favourite Mach Wheel cruised to a two length victory in his Grassroots division on Wednesday, halting the Grand River teletimer at 1:58.2. Pointed Victory and Calgary Seelster paced into second and third.
Trainer Joe Hudon piloted the Mach Three son to his second straight Grassroots victory. Acton, Ont. resident Hudon also bred Mach Wheel and shares ownership of the gelding with his wife Karen Hudon. The victory gives Mach Wheel a total of 125 Grassroots points, with two events remaining before the Sept. 24 Semifinals at Mohawk Racetrack.
Musselsfrmbrussels maintained his position atop the division standings with an impressive victory in the fourth Grassroots skirmish Wednesday. The Modern Art son and trainer-driver Lyle MacArthur took control of the race heading for the halfway marker and never looked back, rocking down the stretch to a six and one-half length victory in 1:56.3. Oil Tumbles and P L Earl rounded out the top three.
MacArthur conditions Musselsfrmbrussels for Anne and Mike Shunock of Dorchester, Ont., who have cheered the colt home to five wins, five seconds and one third in 19 starts this season. The pacer boasts the only perfect record in the three-year-old pacing colt division, with three wins in three Grassroots appearances.
Lyons Elite delivered the quickest mile of the evening, rolling under the wire in 1:56.2 in the first division. The Life Sign colt and driver Scott Coulter bested Grand Master and fan favourite Officernagentleman by two lengths.
Coulter engineered the victory for trainer Wayne Preszcator and owners Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, Ont., and Harness Racing Cdn Elite of Ajax, Ont. Through nine starts this season the colt has accumulated three wins and earnings of $28,140.
The other Grassroots trophy went home from Grand River with My Man Charley, who controlled the tempo in the final division from start to finish, taking full advantage of an early miscue by fan favourite Stolen Car. In rein to Scott Zeron, My Man Charley hit the wire in 1:58.2, two and one-quarter lengths ahead of long shots Eastend Eddie and Bare Necessity.
The win was the fourth of the season and the first in Grassroots action for My Man Charley, who is trained by Cambridge, Ont. resident Casie Coleman for her partner Merlin Howse of Langton, Ont. Like Rileys Luck, the Mach Three son boosted his Grassroots point tally to 87 with the win.
The three-year-old pacing colts resume their Grassroots rivalry at Flamboro Downs on Sept. 9 and wrap up the regular season at Georgian Downs on Sept. 17. The top 16 point earners will then gather at Mohawk Racetrack for two Semifinals and the top four finishers from each Semifinal will battle in the $100,000 Grassroots Championship at Mohawk on Oct. 1.
For results from Wednesday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(OSS)