Bob McIntosh is a rarity amongst those competing in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. Not only does he train one of the largest stables to compete in the popular provincial program, he is also the co-owner and breeder on virtually all of his colts and fillies. What’s also impressive is that in many cases he also trained their sires, dams and beyond.
For many years the Windsor, Ontario-based horseman has been lauded for his superb skills as a conditioner. He is in the Canadian and US Hall of Fame and is the most decorated trainer in Canadian horse racing history. However, his exploits as a breeder are now being widely recognized and he has won three O’Brien Awards as this country’s leading Standardbred breeder.
That fact is very apparent in tonight’s OSS Grassroots Finals where McIntosh has a total of seven starters in the eight $50,000 finals, all homebreds. It’s a busy Saturday for Bob as he also has On Golden Ponder and Somethinincredible racing at The Red Mile in the Bluegrass Stakes.
His first starter in the Grassroots Finals is the three-year-old pacing filly Artful Impluse, a winner of three of 18 this year and $77,480. Bob shares ownership with Dwight Stacey of Mitchell and James Walker of Port Perry, Ontario. She starts from post one in race four with Randy Waples driving. Her dam, Firstariseetonite, won $305,000 during her racing season for McIntosh and partners.
The McIntosh barn has a pair of starters in the three-year-old trotting filly final, Lenny Mac and Chelseas Chance, both by Kadabra. Lenny Mac is the highest point earner from the regular season in the race and comes into the contest off two straight Grassroots victories. McIntosh shares ownership with Earl Hill Jr. of Ohsweken, Ontario. Lenny Mac departs from post two with Waples.
Steve Condren will pilot Chelseas Chance from post nine. McIntosh co-owns with longtime partners and fellow breeders CSX Stable of Ohio. A five time winner in the OSS last season Chelseas Chance is still looking for her first 2014 victory.
Another McIntosh duo will compete in the next final, race eight, for two-year-old pacing colts. Thinkofagameplan is the top point earner in this category and has yet to finish off the board in nine career starts. Waples will guide the son of Ponder, a former McIntosh star, from post nine.
Thinkofagameplan is the second foal from a daughter of Camluck (another former McIntosh stable star) whose second dam, Artistic Pleasure, won $400,000 for McIntosh and went on to produce his $1 million winner Please Me Please. Bob and his cousin Al McIntosh of Leamington, Ontario, bred and co-own Thinkofagameplan.
Stablemate Big Moment has post two with Condren aboard. A son of Camluck owned by Bob and Max Newham of Merlin, Ontario, the very consistent colt is 3-2-3 in nine starts so far this year.
In the final for three-year-old trotting colts, race nine, McIntosh’s hopeful is Tyrone Haji. This Kadabra colt was actually bred by Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, Ontario, who has owned several horses with McIntosh over the years, including this gelding who has three OSS victories to his credit this year. Tyrone Haji’s second dam is Tudy Tuck, a top performer in the OSS program three decades ago.
The final hopeful in the OSS Finals carrying McIntosh’s red and white colours is Regal Son. Bob trained his sire, Stonebridge Regal, his dam, On This Day and her sire, Camluck. Owned by McIntosh, CSX and Gordon Wright, Michigan, Regal Son has won three of five OSS outings during his sophomore season.
In addition to the great racing on the track tonight at Mohawk, fans will also be treated to musical entertainment, a handicapping contest, an OSS t-shirt giveaway and betting voucher draws. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., races begin at 7:25. To view the full program, please click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk
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