Division leaders Champagne Phil and Panongahela will be looking to maintain their perfect Grassroots records with a second victory over the Mohawk Racetrack oval on Friday, August 9 in Ontario Sires Stakes action.
Champagne Phil is conditioned by Hamilton resident Kenneth Oliver for ICR Racing of Pefferlaw, and Cheltenham resident Dave Menary trains Panongahela for Peter Pan Stables Inc. of Pepper Pike, OH. The duo landed the top spot in the three-year-old pacing colt division standings by sweeping their respective Grassroots divisions at Mohawk Racetrack on June 21 and Georgian Downs on July 27.
On Friday the leaders will line up at Post 1 in the eleventh race and Post 9 in the eighth race, with Panongahela facing the bigger test in Race 8.
Among the horses hoping to bring Panongahela’s Grassroots win streak to a halt is Stonebridge Adam, who currently sits third in the point standings. The Gary Kingshott trainee will benefit from Post 1 in the $18,000 contest and will be reunited with Campbellville resident Chris Christoforou, who engineered the colt’s victory in the Grassroots season opener at Mohawk Racetrack on June 21.
Rockwood resident Kingshott shares ownership of Stonebridge Adam with Shannon Bennett of Toronto, Gregory Kingshott of Rockwood and Terence Molony of Mississauga. Through 14 starts this season, the Stonebridge Regal colt has tallied five wins and one third.
Also hoping to unseat Panongahela in the eighth race are two colts tied for sixth spot in the standings. Chosen Hombre will make his bid from Post 7 for trainer Brian Collins of Peterborough and owner Brian Stephen Scott of Lakefield, while Dull Roar starts from Post 8 for trainer Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh and his partners Ken Henwood of Vaughan, Mac Nichol of Burlington and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY.
The three-year-old pacing colts will strut their stuff in Races 2, 4, 8, 9, and 11 on Friday evening’s program, which also features the $43,100 final of the Girls Night Out Pacing Series (Race 5). Mohawk Racetrack will send its first race into the starter’s hands at 7:25 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at Mohawk, click the following link: Friday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(OSS)