Driver Sylvain Filion of Milton, Ont. and trainer Richard Moreau of Puslinch, Ont. teamed up to capture two hotly contested three-year-old pacing colt Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions at Flamboro Downs on Friday evening
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In the second $24,000 Grassroots division, Filion and Mach It Big claimed control of the front end heading for the halfway marker and never looked back, sailing home two and one-half length winners in 1:53.1, the quickest mile recorded in the four OSS skirmishes. Stolen Car picked up second-place honours, just ahead of Facebook, while fan favourite Mach Wheel was well back in sixth.
The win came in Mach It Big’s first start for trainer Moreau and owners Keith and Deborah Cassell of Smiths Falls, Ont., who purchased the son of Mach Three at the Aug. 28 Summer Sizzler Sale. The Cassell’s recouped one-quarter of the colt’s $50,000 purchase price with the victory, and will have another opportunity to offset their costs in the regular season finale at Georgian Downs on Sept. 17.
Should Mach It Big record another strong effort in the Sept. 17 event, he could also extend his Grassroots season into the Semifinal round at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 24. The top 20 point earners from the regular season advance, and Mach It Big currently boasts a point tally of 62, putting him on the fringe of the potential qualifiers.
One race later Filion and Moreau were back in the Flamboro Downs winner’s enclosure with another son of Mach Three. Like his stablemate, Mach Of Ballykeel cruised along on the front end to a two length victory in 1:54.2. Longshot Lucky Encounter trailed along behind Mach Of Ballykeel into second, with Dreamfair Kovu three more lengths back in third.
Moreau conditions Mach Of Ballykeel for owner-breeder Ballykeel Racing and Mach Of Ballykeel Stable of Tillsonburg, Ont. The colt has spent most of his summer competing in the Gold Series program, but kicked off his sophomore season with a win in the July 1 Grassroots event at Mohawk Racetrack and should advance to the Semifinal round with 100 points.
My Man Charley delivered an impressive effort from Post 7 to earn the first Grassroots trophy awarded on Friday. Simon Allard crafted the first over trip for the Mach Three son, and bumped the colt from seventh to second in the standings with the 1:54.1 victory.
Cambridge, Ont. resident Casie Coleman trains My Man Charley for her partner Merlin Howse of Langton, Ont., and has sent the colt behind the gate 13 times this season, resulting in five wins, three seconds, two thirds and earnings of $73,430. The fan favourite bested Some Mach Some Win and Libertys Best Star to claim his second piece of Grassroots hardware.
The final Grassroots division was captured in front end style by Guns An Roses and driver Roger Mayotte, who rolled around the Flamboro Downs half-mile to a half length victory in 1:53.4. Lightly rated Eastend Eddie paced into second and Grand Master rounded out the top three.
The win bumped the Life Sign gelding’s point tally to 70 heading into the final regular season event. Frank Colville of Moffat, Ont. conditions Guns And Roses for his daughter Joanne Colville and grand-daughter Emma Christoforou of Moffat and Annelies Horn of Campbellcroft, Ont.
The three-year-old pacing colts will battle for the final set of Grassroots points at Georgian Downs on Sept. 17, while the two-year-old pacing fillies and two-year-old pacing colts head to Flamboro Downs next week for their regular season finales. The freshman pacing fillies will arrive in Dundas on Wednesday, Sept. 14 and the pacing colts on Friday, Sept. 16.
For results from Friday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results – Flamboro Downs.
(OSS)