Ontario’s two-year-old trotting colts will wrap up their Grassroots season at Grand River Raceway on Monday, Sept. 9, and David Holliday is hoping Striking Patrick can preserve his spot among the top 10 point earners with a strong effort over his local oval.
Striking Patrick debuted with a victory in the Grassroots season opener at Kawartha Downs on June 29, circling the Fraserville oval in 2:01.3. He followed that up with a second at Mohawk Racetrack on July 15 and then missed one Grassroots event due to sickness. Back at Mohawk on Aug. 8 the Striking Sahbra gelding finished sixth and on Aug. 18 he delivered a strong effort from the outside Post 7 at Clinton Raceway to finish third.
Heading into Monday’s regular season finale Striking Patrick sits ninth in the standings with 90 points. Only the top 10 point earners are assured of a berth in the Sept. 21 Grassroots Championship at Mohawk, so the gelding will be looking to add a few points to his tally on Monday.
Mount Forest resident Holliday owns and trains Striking Patrick, and his son Ryan will steer the gelding from Post 4 in Monday’s third race. Holliday purchased the trotter from last fall’s Canadian Yearling Sale, offering up $3,500 for the full brother to $133,729 winner Swing Anna Miss.
Division point leader Pasadena Star will be looking for win number four from Post 7 in the first $15,000 Grassroots division. The Kadabra gelding is trained by Windsor resident Bob McIntosh for his partner C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH. Pasadena Star is one of two Kadabra colts the Hall of Fame horseman has in the top 10. Tyrone Haji is currently tied for third and will start from Post 4 in Monday’s sixth race for McIntosh and breeder Dave Boyle of Bowmanville.
Post time for Grand River Raceway’s Monday, Sept. 9 program is 7:05 p.m., with the two-year-old trotting colts featured in Races 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 10.
(OSS)
To view entries for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday’s Entries – Grand River Raceway.