Ontario’s talented three-year-old pacing colts were on fire at Georgian Downs on Saturday evening, rocketing around the Innisfil oval in the last regular season event of their Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots campaign
.
Mach Wheel stripped three seconds off his personal best en route to the quickest mile of the four Grassroots divisions. In rein to trainer Joe Hudon, the Mach Three son took command of the race past the halfway marker and reached the three-quarters five lengths ahead of the field. Maintaining his snappy tempo, Mach Wheel hit the wire nine and one-quarter lengths on top in a personal best 1:50.3. The time of the mile also established a new track record for freshman geldings.
Last year’s Grassroots champion Just Asign To Me found some late sprint and paced into second, edging by My Man Charley.
Acton, Ont. resident Joe Hudon bred Mach Wheel and shares ownership of the gelding with his wife Karen Hudon. Through five Grassroots starts this season Mach Wheel posted three wins and one second for a point total of 175, putting him in second spot in the division standings heading for next Saturday’s Semifinal. Making a total of 15 starts the gelding has accumulated three wins, three seconds and three thirds this season for earnings of $70,740.
Division leader Musselsfrmbrussels picked up his fourth Grassroots win of the season in the last $24,000 division. Saving ground on the rail from third as pacesetter Hold Your Hat rang up fractions of :26.2, :54.3, and 1:22.2, Musselsfrmbrussels stepped out in the stretch and cruised by to a two length victory in 1:51.2. Hi Sir and Sonic Dancer were also able to reel in the pacesetter, finishing second and third.
Lyle MacArthur trains and drives Musselsfrmbrussels for Anne and Mike Shunock of Dorchester, Ont., sending the Modern Art son behind the gate 21 times this season and watching him pick up six wins, five seconds and one third for earnings of $96,810. In five Grassroots starts the colt was only bested once, settling for a fourth-place result from Post 7 at Flamboro Downs last week, and wraps up his regular season atop the standings with 208 points.
Fortune smiled on Lucky Encounter in the first division, as the Camluck son found room to maneuver in the stretch and sprinted home to a one length victory and a berth in the Semifinal round. Sitting fifth through most of the mile, the gelding rocketed by Lyons Elite and Rileys Luck, who had been sitting closer to the snappy fractions clocked by pacesetter Oil Tumbles, stopping the teletimer at 1:53.3.
Ranked 34th heading into Saturday night’s test, Lucky Encounter finishes the season in a tie for 15th spot, sporting 75 points from Saturday’s win and his runner-up finish at Flamboro Downs last week. Barry Treen trains and drives the easy-going youngster for Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, Ont., Kevin Kobus of Toronto and Peter Howarth of Brampton, Ont.
The other Grassroots trophy was awarded to former Gold elimination winner Twin B Legend, who logged a gate-to-wire win in 1:52.1. The Mach Three son and driver Billy Davis Jr. finished one and one-half lengths ahead of Eastend Eddie and Dreamfair Kovu.
Jack Darling owns and trains Twin B Legend, who also competed in the first Grassroots events of the season, at Mohawk Racetrack on July 1, where he finished fourth. The gelding’s 58 point total puts him four points short of the cut off for the post season.The top 20 point earners advance to next week’s Semifinals at Mohawk Racetrack, with the top five finishers from each $30,000 Semifinal earning a shot at the Grassroots Championship title on Oct. 1 at Mohawk.
Mohawk Racetrack will also play host to the Win The Thrill Grand Prize draw on Oct. 1, and Georgian Downs fans Ida Worsnop of Barrie, William Clark of Barrie, Jane Phair of Wasaga Beach, Cynthia Ropson of Shelburne, Monica Nadeau of Gilford, Laura Stockdale of Bolton, Dave Cochrane of Alliston and Stephanie Beltrano will be hoping their ballot is selected as the winner of one share in the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association’s (SBOA) New Owner Mentoring Program.
Amidst the OSS action, Rene Allard teamed up with his brother, driver Simon Allard, for a training triple on the 12-race card.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.
(With files from OSS)