AUGUST 10, 2016 – Four divisions of Ontario Sire Stakes Gold sired trotting talent arrived at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday evening and proceeded to tear up the harness racing half-mile oval's record book.
The records started to fall in the very first $105,000 Gold Series division, as three-year-old trotting colt Sass fought off a pair of challengers to hang on for a neck victory in 1:56.3, two-fifths of a second faster than the 1:57 trotting colt and gelding record set by Covert Operative last season. Last year's division champion Tony Soprano pressed Sass through the final quarter, but could not get past the determined pacesetter and settled for second. Makers Mass closed well to be third.
"Although Sass was a nice two-year-old, he needed to grow up, which he has," said trainer Mark Steacy of the son of Kadabra and Armbro Equinox. "For a feminine-built stallion he has a big heart and is very determined. Every time he races, he gives his all."
The win, engineered by Guelph, ON resident James MacDonald, was the colt's first in Ontario Sires Stakes action and boosted his sophomore record to five wins, two seconds and $120,610 in earnings through 11 starts. As a two-year-old Sass posted one win, two seconds and four thirds in 10 starts and made five Grassroots and one Gold Series start, never finishing worse than fifth.
Lansdowne, ON resident Steacy conditions Sass for owner-breeder Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, QC.
Unfortunately for Sass, his track record lasted less than 30 minutes as Will Take Charge toured the Grand River oval in 1:55.2 in the next Gold division. Starting from Post 5, driver Paul MacDonell put the fan favourite on the front before the quarter-pole and the gelding reeled off fractions of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:26.4 before sailing home to a two length victory. Bee In Charge and Dia Monde finished second and third.
Wednesday's victory was Will Take Charge's second in Gold Series action this season and boosted his sophomore record to four wins, three seconds and one third in nine starts for earnings of $200,650. Campbellville, ON resident John Bax trains the Kadabra son for his partners Gordon Wright of Charlotte, MI, Don Allensen of Wyoming, ON and John Hayes of Sharon, ON.
Three races later the two-year-old trotting fillies stepped to centre stage and Grand River fans were treated to a third straight track record performance.
Fan favourite On A Sunny Day left smartly from Post 3 and led the field of nine to a :30.1 opening quarter with the fans' second choice, Sweet Of My Heart, tucked in behind her. On A Sunny Day continued to lead and Sweet Of My Heart continued to follow through a :59 half and a 1:29.1 three-quarters, but turning for home driver Chris Christoforou, Jr. freed Sweet Of My Heart from the pocket and the filly accelerated down the stretch to a one-half length victory in 1:58.4. On A Sunny Day settled for second and Literally was well behind the duelling leaders in third.
The 1:58.4 clocking took three-fifths of a second off the former two-year-old trotting filly track record of 1:59.2 set by Miss Aultsville in 2013.
"She's a very nice filly, she got a great trip," noted Christoforou. "She is progressing nicely through the stakes season so far. She has tremendous potential due to her smooth gait, large size and competitive attitude."
Campbellville resident Christoforou crafted the win for trainer Paul Reid of De Leon Springs, FL and owner-breeder Robert Key of Leechburg, PA. Through the first four Gold Legs the daughter of Angus Hall and Sweetheart K now has one win, two seconds and one third.
In the second trotting filly Gold division Janderson earned her third Gold Series trophy with a front-end effort that saw her fend off fan favourite Gravitator through the final quarter and hold on for a one-half length win in 2:00. Gravitator had to be satisfied with second and Lady Justice was third.
Cambridge resident Mike Keeling trains Janderson for Dr. Roly Armitage of Dunrobin and James Armitage of Carp, ON. Guelph resident Paul MacDonell pilots the daughter of Muscle Mass, who now has Gold Series victories over half-mile, five-eighths mile and seven-eighths mile ovals.
The two-year-old trotting fillies return to the seven-eighths mile Mohawk Racetrack for their fifth Gold Series event on Sept. 29, while the three-year-old trotting colts head to the Georgian Downs five-eighths on August 27 for their fourth Gold Leg.
Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Grand River Raceway next Wednesday, August 17, with the fourth Grassroots event for the two-year-old pacing colts.
Ontario Racing