Clinton Raceway rolled out the red carpet for the Ontario Sires Stakes on Sunday afternoon, as the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings trekked to the half-miler to do battle in seven $24,000 Grassroots divisions
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The quickest division on the 12-race program went to Agusto, who entered this afternoon’s assignment in a tie for the top spot in the OSS standings. The sale topper at Standardbred Canada’s Summer Sizzler Mixed Sale earned back a nice chunk of that day’s $83,000 price tag for his new owners, Kellogg Racing Stables LI of Queensbury, NY.
In rein to Jody Jamieson, the son of Angus Hall-Flying Dove Café shot to immediate command and laid down panels of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:28.3 en route to posting the nine-length score in a time of 1:59.3. Waytogo Abra was second and third prize went to Savthelstdancforme.
Colin Johnson conditions the gelding, who is now perfect in all three of his OSS Grassroots tilts this season. It was the fourth consecutive score and the seventh win of the season for Agusto, who holds down sole possession of the top spot in the OSS standings by virtue of his point total which now stands at 150. The $12,000 payday helped his lifetime earnings surge past $126,000.
The co-quickest OSS event on the afternoon program went to Mopey Corey, who also toured the half-mile oval in 1:59.3. In rein to trainer/driver Anthony MacDonald, the son of Southwind Lustre-Armbro Kaitlyn stalked pacesetter King Gus through fractions of :30 and 1:00 before taking over command at the three-quarter pole in 1:31 and then using a :28.3 final frame to seal the deal by more than seven lengths. King Gus was second and Trotting Colonel finished third.
The victory was the second of the season and the fifth lifetime score for the career winner of $193,064, who is owned by MacDonald and partners Terry Hunter and Bruce Gaum.
The remaining OSS Grassroots divisions went to Pembrook Street (2:00), Overdraft (2:01), Anahar Buster (2:01.2), Lukas Rossi (2:02.2) and Dashing Earl (2:03).
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.