Three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were out in full force at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening, as the Campbellville oval hosted seven Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions.
Modern Xhibit (133 Grassroots points) took the opening division in a career-best clocking of 1:51.2 despite being collared in the lane by race favourite Franceschetti. Keith Oliver tucked Modern Xhibit into the three-hole in the early going while The Riddler and Lotsa Chrome battled by the first marker in a :27-second clip. Oliver hustled Modern Xhibit to the front in the backstretch, and the gelding led the field to the half in :55.3 and then the three-quarter pole in 1:23. Franceschetti rallied from first over and took over command in the lane, but Modern Xhibit re-rallied and wound up winning by a neck. Franceschetti held on for second, with Mississippi Hippy taking home third prize.
The son of Modern Art-Armbro Teacher, who was making his debut for trainer Anthony Montini, improved this year’s record to 6-2-4 from 19 trips to the track with the victory. Larry Ainsworth of Petrolia, ON and Bill Boden of Vancouver, BC own the career winner of $82,564.
Red Carpet Dude (145 Grassroots points) pulled off a 7-1 upset for Jody Jamieson in the second division, and in doing so he extended his winning streak to two-in-a-row for trainer Andy McCabe. Fresh off a 1:54 OSS score at Georgian Downs on August 18, the son of Camluck-Red Carpet Queen used a :27-second final quarter to circle foes in the lane en route to the head decision over In Commando. A badly bearing out Thunder Steeler was third.
Glenview Livestock Ltd of Wallenstein and Bill Manes of Rockwood, ON share ownership on the five-time winner, who pushed his lifetime cash stash to $106,160 with the win.
Better Get Ready (50 Grassroots points) went to the front and didn’t look back in his $24,000 assignment for the tandem of driver Mike MacNeill and trainer Jay Polifroni. The son of E Dees Cam-Keystone Tiara tore through fractions of :26.3, :54.1 and 1:22.2 before using a :28.2 closing quarter to win in a career-best clocking of 1:50.4. Sent off at odds of 7-2, Better Get Ready defeated Machman and race favourite Winbak Warrior.
Jim Polifroni of Sudbury, ON owns the seven-time winner, who was unraced as a freshman. The gelding has now earned $52,210 from just 13 lifetime starts.
Northmedo Highgear (50 Grassroots points) grabbed his first ever OSS trophy thanks to a narrow score in a career-best clocking of 1:51.2. Sylvain Filion worked out a second-over trip for the Mike Medors trainee, who then used a :27.1 kicker to win by a neck over runner-up Regal Delight. Finishing third was Machapelo.
Sent off at odds of 11-1, the son of Geartogear-Abs Theme Song improved this year’s record to 5-0-3 from nine starts after going without an on-the-board finish in six starts last year. The gelding, who is owned by the Northmedo Stable of Painesville, OH, upped his lifetime earnings to $30,430 with the win.
Huxley (112 Grassroots points) came through as the odds-on favourite in his $24,000 division for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Dave Menary. The son of Modern Art-Heavenly Hudson led to the quarter pole in :27 before taking a backseat to Rebel Jet through middle splits of :55.1 and 1:24. Huxley rallied in the lane and used a :28-second closing panel to win by half a length over Carsons Cracker in 1:52.2. Highland Bogart grabbed the show dough.
Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, PA share ownership on the nine-time winner, who has manufactured a 2-2-2 record from 12 starts this year. The $12,000 payday increased his overall cash stash to $266,925.
OK Ebury (154 Grassroots points) went coast-to-coast in the sixth division, and that was music to the ears of the favourite players. Sent off as the 2-1 choice, Sylvain Filion sent the Richard Moreau pupil through fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.1 before scooting home in :27.4 to win by half a length over So Take That in 1:52. Life Signature took home the third prized.
The son of Modern Art-Jennies Girl, who is owned by Luc Loyer of Gatineau, QC, won for the second time this season and for the fifth time in his career. He’s banked in excess of $47,000 this season and more than $71,000 to date.
Lucky Jet (150 Grassroots points) had yet to finish worse than second in his OSS Grassroots assignments this season, and it was more of the same on Monday night for the son of Jeremes Jet-My Metallica. Doug McNair treated the Doug McNair pupil to a ground-saving trip through crazy fractions of :26, :53.4 and 1:22 before launching him to the outside and sprinting past the tired leaders. Lucky Jet drew clear to win by 5-1/4 lengths over Tye Seelster in 1:50.3. Curious Phoenix grabbed the bronze medal.
Tom Harmer, Michelle Crawford and Edward Kollross share ownership