Seven divisions of the OSS Grassroots were scattered throughout Tuesday’s 12-race program at Georgian Downs, with two-year-old trotting colts and geldings
in the spotlight.
Southwind Nazareth went to the front and didn’t look back in the opening split for driver Scott Coulter. The son of Kadabra-New York To Paris wheeled the field through panels of :29.4, 1:00.2 and 1:30.3 before tacking on a :30-second closing quarter for good measure. He drew clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Mo Debra in 2:00.3. Third prize went to Northern Triumph.
Trainer Shane Arsenault of Waterdown co-owns the colt with his father, Lou Arsenault of Freelton, ON, and together they’ve watched him assemble a 2-4-0 record in just eight trips to the track. The lion’s share of the $24,000 boosted his earnings to $48,980 while the 50 points he earned for the win helped lift his seasonal point total to 175.
Northern Victory earned a new speed badge thanks to his 2:00.1 tally in the second division for trainer/driver Rod Zeron. The son of Amigo Hall-Yankee Nugget, who was purchased for $8,000 from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, enjoyed a pocket trip behind Magish through fractions of :28.4 and :59.4 before popping out of the two-hole and pressing the leader to the three-quarter pole in 1:30. A :30.1 final quarter allowed Northern Victory to brush to the top and hold for a neck decision over Oaklea Umpire. Magish was a length back in third.
Robert Montgomery of Carp, ON owns the colt, who has picked up a pair of wins and a set of second-place finishes in his first six assignments. He’s banked more than $30,000 along the way.
Lexus Hawkeye turned a ground-saving trip into a 2:01 triumph in his debut for trainer/driver Brian Dunbar in the third division. The son of Amigo Hall-Lexus Lulu sat a three-hole trip behind the front-stepping Duke Of Vegas who threw down fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:30.2. Dunbar found an opening for his charge in the lane and the gelding used a :30-second closing panel to post the 1-1/4 length score over race favourite House Money. Duke Of Vegas faded to finish third.
It was just the third lifetime start for the gelding, who is owned by John Sinclair of Palmerston, ON. The youngster increased his lifetime earnings to $13,125 with the win.
Tymal Oh So Nice went wire-to-wire in his $24,000 assignment for trainer/driver Carl Jamieson, and in doing so he extended his winning streak to two-in-a-row. The son of Striking Sahbra-Tymal Abracadabra led through intervals of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:30.1 before kicking home in :29.2 to win in a career-best clocking of 1:59.3. He was 4-1/4 lengths better than St Lads Cyber Dude, with Noble Warrawee grabbing third prize.
After struggling early in his career, the colt appears to have turned the corner for Jamieson and the partnership of Tom Kyron, Brian Paquet and Douglas Good. He’s managed to stash away $25,300 in his first four outings.
Mutinyonthebounty celebrated a maiden-breaking score in his division for the team of driver Trevor Ritchie and trainer Doug McIntosh. The son of Mutineer-Self Secure, who was second in his first two tries against OSS Grassrooters, led from start to finish in Tuesday’s tilt. He threw down fractions of :29.3, 1:00.3 and 1:30.1 before using a :30.1 closing quarter to seal the deal by 1-1/2 lengths over Pocket Passer. Northern Kingdom was third.
Sent off as the choice in the nine-horse affair, Mutinyonthebounty nearly doubled his lifetime earnings to $24,800 for McIntosh and partner Randy Liepa of Livonia, MI.
P L Fantastic was the fastest stakes winner on the program thanks to his maiden-breaking score in 1:57.3 for driver Dan Clements. The son of Majestic Son-Corinas Mission led through intervals of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:28.4 before scooting home in :28.4 to stop the teletimer in a track record clocking of 1:57.3. The colt defeated race favourite The Golden Child and Mikey Hanover.
Matt Dupuis trains the homebred for Prince Lee Acres of Uxbridge, ON. He now boasts a 1-0-1 record in four starts, and Tuesday’s payday boosts his overall earnings to $16,090.
Grandin Road gave driver Trevor Ritchie and trainer Doug McIntosh their second trip to victory lane on the program thanks to his 1:59 triumph in the final division. Ritchie hustled the colt to the lead and sent him through splits of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:29.1 en route to win over Ballykeel Ulysses, who was three-quarters of a length in arrears, and Dnieper.
The homebred son of Kadabra-Livias Image, who races for Ivey Pharm Stable of Cincinnati, OH, won for the first time in five career tries. He now owns a 1-1-1 record and earnings in excess of $20,000.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.