Sophomore colts and geldings headed to Kawartha Downs on Tuesday evening for six $20,000 OSS Grassroots divisions and driver Sylvain Filion guided two trotters to new lifetime marks at the Fraserville oval.
In the first division, Filion worked out a winning trip with Patriot Seelster to nab his third lifetime victory and second Grassroots title.
The Berndt Hanover colt sat in third as The Mash Potato (Mitch Sahely) led the field through an opening panel of :28.3. Sylvain and his charge kicked into gear as The Mash Potato posted :57 half with a 12 length lead. As the field passed the third-quarter mark in 1:26.3, Patriot Seelster closed in on the pacesetter and in the stretch secured his own lead, winning in 1:58.3 by over three lengths.
Baby Boy Grin (Jerry Nugent) got up for second, while The Mash Potato faded to third.
The Ron O'Neill trainee is owned by Jalade Investments Ltd. of Oakville, the Deanmar Sons Stable of Mississauga and Peter Miskolczi of Brampton, Ont.
Sylvain returned to the winner's circle with Kangamangus in a 1:57.3 score.
Trained by Joe Stutzman and owned by Michael Katz of Thornhill and Larry Moore of Milton, Ont., Kangamangus sat in third as Worthy Advantage (Kelvin Rose), the 6-5 favourite, posted panels of :28.4, :57.3 and 1:26.2. Going into the final turn, the pacesetter broke stride. In deep stretch, Kangamangus pulled ahead of the pocket-sitter Speedy Guard (Paul MacKenzie) by a neck for the win in 1:57.2. Golden Genes Hall (Mario Baillargeon) finished third.
The Angus Hall gelding picked up his fourth lifetime score. In five OSS outings this year, he has finished in the money each time.
In their divisions, Rock Rico and Abe Linkin also took new lifetime marks.
In rein to Bill O'Donnell, Rock Rico dominated in his first Grassroots start with a wire-to-wire victory in 1:56.4, the fastest division on the card. Unraced at two, the son of Kadabra, who is trained by Ira Fisher and owned by Ely Iversen of Moffat, Ont., picked up his fifth win.
Abe Linkin and driver Dave Wall held on by a head to win in 1:59.2 over the favourite J S Chisum (Brad Watt) in the fifth split for his second Grassroots victory. The Incredible Abe gelding increased his bankroll to $73,186 with his fourth lifetime win. He is trained by Dr. Joan Gough for Falconbrydge Farms of Mount Brydges, Ont.
Dillavec picked up his second Grassroots win for trainer, driver and co-owner Paul Walker after beating out the favourite Windsun Pride (Dave Wall) by a head in 1:59.3.
In his division, Long Ago (Shayne Barrington) also poked a head in front of the favoured Strong Hall (Bill O'Donnell) to prevail in 1:57.3 for trainer and co-owner John Holding. It was his third Grassroots triumph.
To view Tuesday's results, click here.