Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings of the O.S.S. Grassroots program headed to Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening to square off in a five-pack of divisions
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Grand Master pushed his O.S.S. points total to 150 thanks to a 1:57 triumph in the opening division. Billy Davis, Jr. took over command with the son of Goliath Bayama-Vedas Dragon on the way to the mid-way point and kept on trucking from that point on en route to the quarter-length decision over Camaes Fellow (Trevor Henry). Medoland J T (Simon Allard) was third in the $24,000 tilt.
Bill James trains the gelding for Donald Smith and Donna Parker of Hampton, ON. Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Grand Master now boasts a 3-1-1 record in eight lifetime starts. The $12,000 payday boosted the pacer’s bankroll to $46,440.
Just Asign To Me saw his O.S.S. points total soar to 200 – the best in the division – as a result of his 1:54.2 tally in the second division. The son of Geartogear-Justasign Hanover and driver Trevor Henry led through fractions of :27.4, :57 and 1:26.3 before using a :27.4 final quarter to win by three lengths in 1:54.2. Adventure Bound (Randy Fritz) was second under the line and Hi Sir (Mike Saftic) finished third.
Bruce Gilkinson conditions the gelding for the Cat Sass Stable of Listowel, ON. It was the pacer’s third consecutive victory, and his fifth of the season in just seven attempts. The lion’s share of the purse lifted his earnings to $51,780.
Facebook went coast-to-coast in a career-best clocking of 1:56.1 in his tilt for the tandem of driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair. The homebred son of Mach Three-Wendy My Gal, who is owned by Bloomingwood Farms Ltd of Harriston, ON, held on to win by three-quarters of a length over Mach Wheel (Joe Hudon). Mister Hill (Robert Shepherd) rounded out the top three finishers.
The victory helped the colt improve his rookie record to 2-2-2 in eight trips postward, and it pushed his lifetime cash stash to $44,960.
Kendal Fresco was a maiden-breaking winner in his division for the duo of driver Mike Whelan and trainer Scott McNiven. The son of Life Sign-City Of Dreams came first-over and worked hard to win by three-quarters of a length over Stolen Car (Dan Clements) in 1:56.3. Rez Rockstar (Robert Shepherd) was third.
Sent off as an 11-1 outsider, the gelding now owns a 1-1-1 record in his first three assignments for partners Kim McNiven, Shirley Griffin and James Kirk of Ontario.
Ultimate Luck came first over and drew off to win by 3-3/4 lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:55 in the final division. With Scott Zeron at the lines behind the Sifroi Melanson trainee, the son of Camluck-Village Jericho easily defeated Wit And Wisdom (Mike Saftic) and Classic Call (Scott Coulter).
It was the colt’s fourth win of the season in just six trips to the track for the youngster, who is owned by the Ultimate Stable of Greater Lakeburn, NB.
To view Tuesday’s results, click here.