Steacy Discusses Grassroots Starters

Published: August 12, 2016 03:29 pm EDT

Ontario Sires Stakes action arrives at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday evening with three $18,000 Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old trotting colts. Trainer Mark Steacy will start colts in the first two divisions, and the leading trainer in the Ontario Sires Stakes program is hoping for solid performances from both Majestic Streak and More Than Majestic.

Majestic Streak will start from Post 2 in the first division and will make just his second start of the season after having spent the month of July battling a virus.

“I kind of liked him when I qualified him. We started him in the Gold and he was kind of border-line so we dropped him down, but unfortunately he got sick. Two times he had the rail and he got sick and I had to scratch him both times,” recalled Steacy, who is a resident of Lansdowne, Ont. “And then, because of the two scratches, we had to re-qualify and start over again, but he seems to be healthy now so I’m expecting him to do well.”

Steacy shares ownership of Majestic Streak with David Reid of Glenburnie, Ont., and the partners also bred the Majestic Son and Throw A Party colt. The trainer’s son, Clarke Steacy, will steer both Majestic Streak and More Than Majestic, who gets Post 4 in the second division.

“I think he had the eight-hole last time at Rideau, so he never really got into the race, before that he raced a nice fourth. I think he’s got a decent shot,” said Steacy of More Than Majestic. “I think he fits there nice, he just needs a couple breaks to hopefully finish up a little closer.”

In three Grassroots outings, the son of Majestic Son and Hawaiian Viva has posted one second, one fourth and one sixth. Landmark 9 Racing Stable of Kingston, Ont., Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, QC and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. of Ossining, N.Y. share ownership of the gelding, who was a $40,000 acquisition from the Harrisburg Yearling Sale last fall.

The freshman trotting colts will battle in Races 3, 6, and 9 on Saturday’s program, and during breaks in the on-track action, Hiawatha Horse Park fans will have six opportunities to win an official Ontario Sires Stakes jacket and ample time to enjoy the track’s annual corn roast. In addition to the six prize draws and savoury corn, fans who purchase an official program will receive an Ontario Sires Stakes ball cap.

Saturday’s first race will head behind the Hiawatha Horse Park starting gate at 7 p.m.

To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Hiawatha, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Hiawatha Horse Park.

(OSS)

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