JULY 1, 2017 – Trainer Rene Allard and driver Michael Whelan teamed up to win a pair of Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions on Hiawatha Horse Park's Canada Day harness racing program Saturday.
Three Grassroots trophies were up for grabs and Allard and Whelan captured the first and last divisions with Rose Run Speedster and Clarion Call, both sons of Windsong Espoir.
Starting from Post 7, Whelan sent Rose Run Speedster straight to the front and the pair never saw a challenge, rolling through fractions of :27.4, :59.3 and 1:29.4 on their way to a four and three-quarter length victory in 1:59.2. Fan Favourite Motown Jackpot and Upvote Hanover rounded out the top three.
"We're pretty happy to see him returning to form," said Guelph, ON resident Anthony MacDonald, who shares ownership of Rose Run Speedster with Allard and members of the fractional ownership group Rose Run Speedster Stable, also of Guelph. "We had some good luck with him last year and he really helped put thestable.ca on the map. A lot of owners new to the game in 2016 are very happy right now, and that's good for the industry."
A two-time Gold Series winner at two, Rose Run Speedster is now is sole possession of top spot in the sophomore trotting colt Grassroots standings after posting wins in the first two legs of the series. The colt boosted his lifetime earnings to $136,050 with Saturday's victory.
Whelan employed the same tactics to land Clarion Call in the winner's circle in the last $19,150 division. Hustling away from Post 2 Clarion Call rang up a :27.3 quarter, :58.1 half and 1:28.1 three-quarters on his way to a three and one-half length win in 1:58.4. Favourite Santini was second and Tougher Than Ever trotted into third.
Also a Gold Series winner at two, Saturday's appearance marked Clarion Call's debut in the sophomore provincial program. Allard, who makes his home in Matamoras, PA, shares ownership of Clarion Call with Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation, QC and Earl Hill Jr. of Ohsweken, ON.
The other Grassroots trophy went home with trainer Mark Steacy, who had already captured a trio in three-year-old trotting filly action at Dresden Raceway earlier in the day.
Starting from Post 2 with Iona Station, ON resident Alfie Carroll in the race bike, Dontcrampmystyle left smartly and reached the quarter in :28.2. Carroll allowed Jayport Buddy and Steve Byron to take control heading for the :58.4 and shadowed the new pacesetter through a 1:29 three-quarters before hitting the gas in the stretch. Dontcrampmystyle reeled in Jayport Buddy by three-quarters of a length with Enchanted Mission closing well to be third in the 1:59.3 mile.
"We picked him up in the spring and he's had issues which we have been working on," said Lansdowne, ON resident Steacy, who conditions Dontcrampmystyle for owner-breeder Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein, ON. "He always tries hard and seems to be getting healthier."
The win was the Muscle Mass son's third of the season and his first in Ontario Sires Stakes action. He and the other sophomore trotting colts will make their third Grassroots start next Sunday, July 9 at Clinton Raceway.
In addition to the exciting on-track action Hiawatha Horse Park fans enjoyed red velvet Canada Day cupcakes and giveaways including Ontario Sires Stakes ball caps and Ontario Racing flip-flops. Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey presented the Grassroots winners with their trophies and enjoyed the Canada Day festivities with the Hiawatha fans.
OSS Program Information
For rules, notices, Program changes, up-to-date point standings, race replays, and more, visit: www.ontariosiresstakes.com
Ontario Racing