AUGUST 8, 2016 – Driver Trevor Henry went on a tear at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday night, winning three of five Grassroots divisions for the harness racing three-year-old trotting colts.
Henry kicked off his successful evening in the first $18,000 Grassroots division, guiding Nofear Blue Chip to a one length victory in a personal best 1:54.4. After getting away fourth from Post 4, Henry sent Nofear Blue Chip to the front heading by the halfway marker and the gelding sailed along unchallenged through the second half of the race. Fan favourite Muscles For Life finished second and Defi Normand was six lengths back in third.
"I drove him last year, I thought he was always a nice colt," noted Henry. "He's coming around, he's had a lot of problems, but he's good right now."
The win was Nofear Blue Chip's first in Ontario Sires Stakes action and comes in his first Grassroots start. The Deweycheatumnhowe gelding competed in the Gold Series as a two-year-old and made two starts at the Gold level this season, finishing third in the June 27 leg and eighth in the July 11 leg, both at Mohawk, before dropping down to the Grassroots level for Monday's start.
"I guess they didn't figure he was good enough for the Gold so they dropped him down," added Henry, who crafted the win for trainer Paul Reid of De Leon Springs, FL and owner Norah Parks of New Lowell, NJ. "He raced really good tonight."
Nofear Blue Chip
The Arthur, ON resident returned to the winner's circle following the third Grassroots division, piloting Mass Balance to a hard fought gate-to-wire victory in 1:56.4. Fan favourite Mass Balance kept a nose in front of a hard-closing Asterix at the wire, and was one length ahead of third-place finisher Bow Ties N Bourbon.
"He's kind of the same way, a nice colt, but he's just not good enough for the Gold," said Henry. "He's a big gaited horse, he's well mannered… he's a Grassroots horse."
Rob Fellows of Rockwood conditions Mass Balance for Synerco Ventures Inc. of Toronto, ON. Like Nofear Blue Chip, Mass Balance started his sophomore campaign in the Gold Series, posting one fourth and one sixth in the first two legs. Monday's victory was the Muscle Mass son's first this season, and gives him a total of one Gold Series and two Grassroots victories in his two-year Ontario Sires Stakes career.
Mass Balance
Henry capped off his Grassroots driving hat trick in the fourth division with Muscles Bound, who powered out of the pocket to earn his first-ever Ontario Sires Stakes trophy. The Angus Hall son hit the wire one length ahead of Midnight Toker and French Bastille in a personal best 1:56.3.
"I'd never drove the horse until a couple weeks ago. He raced good there against overnight horses, I knew he had a pretty good shot tonight," said Henry. "He got a good trip."
Wayne Langille of Harley trains Muscles Bound for Randall Crosby of Princeton and Dale Sparks of Woodstock, ON. In 12 starts this season the gelding has tallied four wins, one second and three thirds for earnings of $35,450.
Muscles Bound
The other two Grassroots trophies went home with Golden Son and Manofmanyimages.
Golden Son and driver Sylvain Filion of Milton, ON took control of the second division just after the opening quarter and never relinquished the lead, scoring a one length victory over P L Jerico and Are You In. The Majestic Son gelding halted the Mohawk teletimer at 1:56.1.
"Touch wood, he seems like a sure bet," said trainer Richard Moreau of Puslinch, ON, who took over training duties from owner Gary Clark in late June. "He's a horse with a big heart. He knows his job and, just like me, he loves to win."
Oriskany Falls, NY residents Gary and Fay Clark own Golden Son, who also won his Grassroots debut at Mohawk on July 12. In 12 starts Golden Son has only finished out of the top three on one occasion, logging seven wins, one second and three thirds for earnings of $41,500. Monday's win was the gelding's fifth straight.
Golden Son
The final division went to Manofmanyimages, who swept off the rail in the stretch to reel in the pacesetters and claim his third Grassroots victory in a personal best 1:55.2. Pacesetter Gonna Fly settled for second, one length behind the winner, and fan favourite Agent Dinozzo was two more lengths back in third.
Guelph resident James MacDonald piloted the Manofmanymissions gelding to the win for trainer John Bax of Campbellville, ON and owners Richard Gutnick of Blue Bell, PA, T L P Stable of Kearny, NJ and Joseph Lozito Jr. of Wayne, NJ. Manofmanyimages has been flawless in Grassroots action this season and leads the division standings with 150 points.
Manofmanyimages
The three-year-old trotting colts will be looking to add to their Grassroots point totals when they make their fourth start on Sunday, August 21 at Clinton Raceway.
Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening with the fourth Grassroots leg for the three-year-old trotting fillies. The fillies will wage their Grassroots battles in Races 2, 3, 5, and 7. Post time at the Campbellville oval is 7:30 pm.
Ontario Racing