Freshman trotting colt Zorgwijk Knight captured his sixth straight victory at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday afternoon, cruising around the Dundas oval in 2:01.3 in spite of starting from the outside Post 8
.
With Dundas resident Doug Bowins in the race bike, Zorgwijk Knight accelerated away from the starting gate in the third $24,000 Grassroots division and cruised along on the front end to a one and three-quarter length victory. Commander K (Torgeir Hagmann) and Anahar Chase (Rob Jenkins, Jr.) rounded out the top three.
Joe Periera trains Zorgwijk Knight for Percy Elkins of Campbellville, and the Cambridge resident has sent the Armbro Ricochet son behind the starting gate seven times this season. Fifth in his career debut — an overnight event against older horses at Flamboro on July 5 — Zorgwijk Knight has been flawless through the remainder of his starts, capturing four Grassroots trophies and sweeping his elimination and the $58,000 final of the Balanced Image Stake at Hanover Raceway.
With a flawless record of four wins in four Grassroots starts for a total of 200 points, Zorgwijk Knight has a lock on top spot in the division standings, 63 points ahead of Bare Knuckles, who scored his second straight Grassroots win in the last division Wednesday.
Starting from Post 2, Bare Knuckles fired out to an early lead and then fought off a determined challenge from Markofdistinction (Jonathan Drury) to earn the one length victory in 2:02. Markofdistinction finished a hard fought second, with Leslie Road (Larry Walker) three and a half lengths back in third.
Arthur resident Trevor Henry drives and trains Bare Knuckles and shares ownership of the Striking Sahbra son with Daniel McCann of Parkhill. Through five starts the colt has now posted two wins, one second and one third.
Henry also made an appearance in the Flamboro Downs winner’s circle with Nautilus Seelster after the third race. The reinsman hustled Nautilus Seelster to the front from Post 4, rolled out fractions of :30.1, 1:02.2 and 1:32.2 and then sprinted away from the field to a seven length score in 2:02.1. Handy Andy (Per Henrikson) finished second, and fan favourite Scotty Doesnt Know (Ron Waples) had to settle for third.
Wayne Henry trains Nautilus Seelster for the Henry Stable of Arthur and Jean Ferguson of Dresden. Through four starts the young trotter now has two wins for earnings of $25,200.
The other two Grassroots divisions were captured by Up To Speed in 2:02 and Krakatoa in 2:01.2.
The two-year-old trotting colts make their fifth Grassroots start at Grand River Raceway on September 25.
Flamboro Downs continues an exciting stretch of Ontario Sires Stakes action on Thursday afternoon, when the two-year-old pacing fillies square off in Gold elimination action. Post time for the matinee event is 1 p.m., with the fillies set to take the stage in Races 5 and 7.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click here.
(With files from OSS)