Acton resident Joe Hudon went two-for-two in Grassroots action at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening, piloting both Haul Away and Raging Grin
to victory.
Starting from Post 4 in the first $24,000 Grassroots division, two-year-old pacing colt Haul Away jumped out to an early lead and Hudon never looked back. The pair sailed under the wire three and three-quarter lengths ahead of Four Js Rustler and Franky B Skipalong, stopping the teletimer at 1:56.2.
Hudon shares ownership on Haul Away with his wife Karen Hudon of Acton, and has sent the Modern Art son behind the starting gate six times this season, resulting in three victories and earnings of $28,720. Haul Away is the seventh foal from Hudon’s mare Armbro Reno, who was a Grassroots finalist in her two-year-old season.
In spite of being handicapped by Post 8 in the second Grassroots division, Hudon and Raging Grin were still able to gain early control and lead the field through fractions of :29, 1:00 and 1:30 before accelerating away to a three length victory in 1:58.3. Q Rock and T Js Seventy Seven battled down the stretch into second and third place.
The winner of the Battle of Waterloo Consolation on Aug. 3, Raging Grin is rolling through a successful freshman campaign for breeder Margaret Payne of St. Augustine, FL and Hudon. In six starts the Grinfromeartoear son has posted three wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of $46,760. With two wins and one third in three Grassroots starts, the colt sits stop the division standings with a total of 112 points, four points ahead of his stablemate Haul Away.
Sitting third in the division standings is OK Canada, who scored his second straight Grassroots victory at Grand River on Monday evening. The Royal Mattjesty son and driver Mario Baillargeon led the field through fractions of :28.1, :59 and 1:27.4 before charging under the wire to a 1:56.3 victory over Cheyenne Oxe and Lazy Ace.
OK Canada finished second to Raging Grin in the Battle of Waterloo consolation, and is now hot on his heels in the Grassroots point race. Milton resident Ben Wallace trains the colt, who has a record of two wins, one second and one third in five starts, for his partners Daniel and Karen MacIntyre of London.
First time starter Mister Russ claimed the fourth Grassroots trophy with a smart 1:56.2 effort off the front end. The Rustler Hanover son and driver Jean Rene Plante hit the finish line three and three-quarter lengths ahead of fan favourite Lil Bit Lil Bit and third-place finisher Grinandwave. Kenneth Switzer trains Mister Russ for Isaac Waxman of Dundas.
The last Grassroots division saw the only come from behind effort of the evening, as Nembits and Trevor Henry reeled in St Lads Bounty and pacesetter Modern Valentine for a half length victory in 1:58.3. It was the first victory in four tries for Nembits, who is owned by breeders Stephen and Marilyn Gillard of Tavistock. Stephen Gillard also handles training duties on the son of Your Nemesis and Anitas Smile.
The two-year-old pacing colts make the fourth stop on their Grassroots tour Sept. 24 at Hiawatha Horse Park, while the two-year-old trotting colts wrap up Grand River Raceway’s Ontario Sires Stakes season on Friday, Sept. 25.
(OSS)
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click here.