When Oaklea Rico races, owner Jocelyne Menard likes to be in the grandstand, so the Chelmsford resident is delighted that the three-year-old trotter’s second Grassroots start will occur on Wednesday, August 12 at Sudbury Downs
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“I can’t miss a race; it’s not acceptable,” says Menard with a laugh.
For the gelding’s July 12 Grassroots debut Menard travelled to Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa, and Oaklea Rico rewarded her with a runner-up finish in his $24,000 division. That effort was the second of four solid outings Oaklea Rico has delivered since trainer Wayne MacLean added trotting hopples to the gelding’s equipment bag.
Since making his career debut in March, Oaklea Rico has tallied two wins, five seconds and one third in 15 starts. After the gelding posted solid overnight victories at Flamboro Downs and Sudbury in the spring, MacLean and Menard decided to take a swing at the Gold Series colts in the May 17 season opener at Mohawk Racetrack. Oaklea Rico finished 10 lengths back in second, and then entered a frustrating stretch where he made breaks in four straight races.
After the gelding made a break in a June 24 qualifier at Sudbury, MacLean went back to the barn for the trotting hopples and three days later Oaklea Rico delivered a flawless qualifying win in 2:03. In his last four starts, the son of Striking Sahbra and $447,192 winner Ob La Da has recorded one second, one third, one fourth and one fifth.
“He’s good in the barn, but he’s a little excited on the track,” notes Menard. “He’s getting better; he’s starting to learn how to race.”
Menard leaves the driving to MacLean, but she does enjoy going to the barn and grooming her horses. Oaklea Rico appreciates the extra attention and Menard says the gelding will even stand for the occasional snuggle from his owner.
“He’s a pet in the barn; he’s a real darling,” she says. “But if you go suddenly, or do anything different, he’s all scaredy-cat. You have to be gentle with him. He needs to know what you’re doing.”
MacLean will steer Oaklea Rico from Post 2 in the third race at Sudbury on Wednesday night, and Menard is hoping the gelding can pick up a share of the $24,000 Grassroots purse. Menard currently owns three horses, and Oaklea Rico and aged pacer Whitesand Noble are paying the stable’s bills while three-year-old trotting colt Senor Roberto takes a hiatus from the racetrack.
“They can’t all be good at the same time, not for me anyway,” says their owner ruefully.
Among the colts Oaklea Rico will face in his second Grassroots appearance is last year’s division champion Lukas Rossi, who will be looking for his first provincial win of the season from Post 5.
Post time for Sudbury Downs’ Wednesday evening program is 7:15 p.m., with the three-year-old trotting colts stepping to centre stage in Races 3, 6, 7 and 9.
To view Wednesday's harness racing entries, click here.
(OSS)