OSS Grassroots Invades Windsor

Published: October 8, 2008 11:19 pm EDT

Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings invaded Windsor Raceway on Wednesday, with the sophomores hoping to earn as many points as possible in four $20,000 OSS Grassroots divisions.

In the opening division, Patriot Seelster converted from a perfect pocket trip for driver Sylvain Filion. The Berndt Hanover – Petrina Seelster colt tracked the leader, Kangamangus (Don Johnson), until the top of the lane, which is where he seized the deep stretch lead and won by two lengths in 1:59.1. Ron O’Neill conditions the colt for partners Jalade Investments Ltd., Deanmar Sons Stable and Peter Miskolczi. In 11 starts as a sophomore, Patriot Seelster is 4-1-3 and has earnings of $60,154.

Last season’s two-year-old Grassroots champ, The Mash Potato, recorded his first OSS win of the 2008 season in the second split. After sitting in the pocket, The Potato Race – Riverdance ridgling vacated the inside and surged past in the final strides to win by a neck in 1:58.4. Brenda Spence trains The Mast Potato for partners John Smith Racing Stb Inc. and Denis Simard. The victory was the first this year for the ridgling, who now has $17,950 in earnings from nine starts.

Were Rolling was rolling in the third tilt as he went gate-to-wire for driver John Kovacs and trainer Gord Dancetovic. The Dem Speedy Bones – Summer Joy colt set the tempo and hung on by a neck, tripping the teletimer in a career best 1:58.2. It was the fourth win in the last five tries for Were Rolling, who is five-for-14, earning $30,050, this year for co-owners Bob and Jorgovanka Dancetovic.

Driver Mario Baillargeon had one strategy in mind with Rapid Strategy and he executed it perfectly in the final division. The gelded son of King Conch – Rapid Sahbra went coast-to-coast, posting a two and a quarter-length decision in 2:00.1. Ben Baillargeon does the training of Rapid Strategy for owner Frank Cirillo, who has seen the sophomore win five of 21 starts and bank $74,371 in 2008.

Wednesday concluded the OSS Grassroots season for the sophomore trotting colts and geldings. Next, they will ship to Flamboro Downs for the Semi-Finals, which will go postward on October 16.

To view Windsor’s results, click here.

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