Driver Steve Condren and trainer Bob McIntosh, both members of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, captured a pair of two-year-old trotting filly Grassroots divisions at Hanover Raceway on Saturday evening.
The longtime partners kicked off the evening’s program with Lenny Mac, who cruised to an effortless four and one-quarter length victory over Charstruck and Please Okay. The Kadabra daughter and Condren halted the Hanover teletimer at 2:01.4.
Windsor resident McIntosh shares ownership of Lenny Mac with Earl Hill of Ohsweken. Through five Grassroots starts the filly has posted three wins, one second and one fourth for a point tally of 183 and sole ownership of second spot in the division standings.
Stablemate Chelseas Chance maintained her standing as the top filly in the division with a 2:03.2 score in the last Grassroots division. In spite of starting from post six, Condren and Chelseas Chance controlled the pace from start to finish and cruised under the wire one and one-half lengths ahead of Flexing and Hollywood Drama.
With four wins and one second in her five Grassroots appearances, Chelseas Chance has accumulated 225 points. McIntosh and C S X Stables of Liberty Centre, Ohio bred and own the Kadabra daughter.
Arthur resident Wayne Henry piloted Rutherford Lass to her first Grassroots win in the second division, but the 2:01.3 score was not quite enough to land the filly in the post season. Her 97 point tally falls just seven points short of the cut off for the top 10. Henry conditions Rutherford Lass, also a Kadabra daughter, for his partner the Estate of Daniel J. McCann of Parkhill.
The other two Grassroots division winners, Bit A Magic (2:01.2) and Just Call Me Lady (2:03.2), also just fell short of a berth in the Grassroots Championship, which goes postward on Sept. 21 at Mohawk Racetrack.
Saturday’s contest wrapped up Hanover Raceway’s 2013 Ontario Sires Stakes season, which saw the half-mile oval host Grassroots legs for the freshman pacing colts, pacing fillies and trotting fillies.
Hanover Raceway gave away a dinner for four to the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Finals at Mohawk Racetrack to Ray Stanley of Hanover while Jean McCauley of Holland Centre won one of two season-ending prizes, a $2,500 home renovation courtesy of Hanover Rona.
Hanover Raceway closes its 2013 season next Saturday with its season-ending awards for horse, driver and trainer of the year, as well as its final major prize draws. Two people will win one of two lazy-boy chairs courtesy of 92.3 The Dock and Smittys fine furniture, and someone will win a $3,000 vacation voucher courtesy of Hanover Travel and Cruises, Nolitours and Transat Holidays. Post time for the final race card of the season is 7:15 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(With files from OSS and Hanover Raceway)