The team of trainer Dave Menary, driver Robert Shepherd and owner/breeder Peter Pan Stables Inc celebrated a stakes double Tuesday night at Georgian Downs thanks to OSS Grassroots wins with two-year-old pacers Panongahela and Panpero Firpo.
Panongahela (155 Grassroots points) grabbed his third Grassroots trophy of the season thanks to his six-length score in 1:54.2. The son of No Pan Intended-Parapanalia got away last in the nine-horse affair, but he made big advances in the middle stages of the mile before using a :29.3 final frame to blow the race wide open. Mckinney was second best, and Regal Hope tagged along to finish third.
The homebred colt, who was sent off as the 8-5 favourite, improved his rookie record to 3-1-0 from eight trips to the track. He’s already banked $47,200 for the Peter Pan Stables Inc of Pepper Pike, OH.
Panpero Firpo (175 Grassroots points) gave Menary and Shepherd their second stakes victory on the card thanks to his gate-to-wire tally in 1:54.4. The son of No Pan Intended-Pangoon led through intervals of :26.4, :57.1 and 1:25.1 before cruising home in :29.3 for the win. He was 2-1/4 lengths better than race favourite Sly Ruler, who was a length up on third-place finisher OK Ferrari.
It was also the second stakes-winning homebred for the Peter Pan Stables Inc of Pepper Pike, OH. The victory improved the colt’s record to 4-1-0 in nine tries and the lion’s share of the $24,000 purse boosted his earnings to $55,450.
Brenin (138 Grassroots points) took over the lead shortly past the quarter pole in his $24,000 division, and once he cleared to the top it was game over for the others. The son of Mach Three-Scappa Flow hit the half in :56.4 and three-quarter pole in 1:25.3 before summoning up a :28.4 closing panel en route to winning by a length over Twin B Famous in 1:54.2. Get Around Town rounded out the Triactor ticket.
Doug McNair mapped out the winning trip for the 4-5 favourite, who hangs his harness bag in the barn of trainer Murray Brethour. It was the homebred’s second win of the season in eight tries. Dr. Huw Llewellyn of Allenford, ON bred and owns the winner of $35,385.
Validus Deo (100 Grassroots points) is now 2-for-2 in the Grassroots this season thanks to his 1:53.3 score in come-from-behind fashion for the team of driver Scott Zeron and trainer Tony Alagna. The son of Lisa Mara-Madam Countess tracked cover before making a three-wide move to the lead at the head of the lane. He then used a :29.1 closing quarter to drive away by 2-3/4 lengths over Sweet Colt Of Mine. Makers Mach rounded out the top three finishers.
Sent off as the 2-1 choice, Validus Deo won for the second time in five tries for the partnership of the Cheap Speed Stable of Steger, IL and Alan Alber of Thornhill, ON. He’s already managed to put $24,000 on his card.
Starlite Kid (137 Grassroots points) celebrated a maiden-breaking score on September 3 in an OSS Grassroots event, and he made a round trip to victory lane in his Tuesday evening assignment. Sylvain Filion plugged the colt into the two-hole for the first quarter of the contest before brushing him to the top as the field moved in front of the grandstand. He led through middle splits of :56.3 and 1:24.4 before tacking on a :29.1 kicker en route to posting the win by 1-1/4 lengths over Up Up And Out in a career-best clocking of 1:54. Urbana Bayama grabbed the show dough.
Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Starlite Kid improved his freshman record to 2-2-2 from just seven trips to the track. The son of Badlands Hanover-Pulse Seelster, who is owned by Ray Bunn and Lisa Steward of Dorchester along with James Kelly of Ilderton, ON, is closing in on $40,000 in earnings.
The top sixteen point earners from this year’s Grassroots program will compete in a set of Grassroots Semi-Finals on September 19 at Grand River Raceway. The top four finishers from each of tilts will return to Grand River Raceway for the $100,000 final on September 29.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.