After kicking off his career with a victory in the opening leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series earlier this summer, Pierre In Paris grabbed his second victory in the provincial program as the regular season came to a close for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Friday, Sept. 13 at Grand River Raceway.
Pierre In Paris opened the Friday evening card winning the fastest of four $20,000 Grassroots divisions in a career-best 1:56.3 for trainer Scott McEneny, who also shares ownership with Aristi Varsakis, Martwest Racing and Cantucky Farm.
The winning time equalled the Canadian record for a two-year-old trotting gelding on a five-eighths mile track, co-held by Dream Nation (2018, Georgian Downs) and You Got It Kemp (2024, Grand River Raceway).
After testing Gold and Grand Circuit competition since his successful July 12 debut at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Pierre In Paris returned to the Grassroots level for a fifth-leg victory over the Elora oval. Driven by Trevor Henry, the even-money favourite re-took the lead after a :28 first quarter and cruised uncontested through middle splits of :57.3 and 1:27.4 en route to the five-length victory. The Archangel-French Doll gelding improved his career record to three-for-seven. After a brief appearance on the lead during the first panel, HP Lucas followed in second with Captain Suzuki shooting up the inside to secure the third-place honours.
Henry doubled up in OSS action as Cousin Halifax earned his second straight Grassroots triumph with a 1:59.4 front-end effort as the overwhelming favourite for trainer David Menary and owner W. J. Donovan. The Trixton-Ms Mischief gelding has finished no worse than second in his five career starts, with three wins. First-over challenger The Bear A Cuda finished 1-1/4 lengths behind with early trailer The Governor grabbing third prize.
First Class Rule was also a repeat winner in the Grassroots Series as he turned back a challenge from the divisional point leader, Hay Dad, with that one fading to fourth. Driven by Todd Ratchford for trainer Matt Bax, the winning son of Muscle Mass-Ruling Class stopped the clock in a new mark of 1:57.2 with a margin of four lengths on his foes. He paid $13.60 for the mild upset, with another top-ranked pair in Alimony Mike and Wendell Blue Chip rounding out the triactor ticket. First Class Rule, now two-for-seven, is owned by Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, Gaelic Stable and Ronald Van Noort.
The other division was won by the Dustin Jones-trained and reined Mr Pasadena, who looped the early leader by the quarter pole and held off favourite Go Blue for a maiden-breaking victory in 1:58.1 by half a length, paying $14 for the mild upset, with A Fine Bordeaux third. A seven-time starter, the Green Manalishi S-Winnie The Who colt is owned by Dustin Jones Stables, Hebert Horses, Sjoblom Racing and Todd Coleman.
The top point earners in the Grassroots Series will face off at Mohawk in the divisional finals on Sept. 28 and the consolations on Sept. 27.
Friday's card also included the first round of a Pop-Up Series for pacing fillies and mares not averaging $650 per start this year with a minimum of 10 starts. The winners of the two $6,500 divisions took new lifetime marks with Miss Sophia Rose ($10.90) and driver Jason Ryan scoring in 1:56.1 for trainer Mark Goddard and Snake Eyes Hanover ($11.50) winning a 1:53.2 duel in rein to Austin Sorrie for trainer Riley Simpson.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)