Campbellville, ON---The first crop of Sportswriter has exploded onto the Ontario Sires Stakes scene as the 2-year-old pacers start their racing season.
Monday night (July 7), colts by that stallion captured all three of the Gold divisions for rookie pacing colts at Mohawk Racetrack and when the fillies debut in Grassroots and Gold divisions later this week, there are a multitude his offspring entered.
The Grassroots gals will headline Mohawk’s Thursday night (July 10) card in five $18,000 divisions with 11 Sportswriter fillies among them. The following night the Gold fillies will commence their 2014 schedule in three $70,000 splits at Mohawk on a card that also includes Canadian Breeders Championship eliminations for 3-year-old trotting colts and fillies, featuring several OSS winners to date.
Friday’s (July 11) card is also highlighted by two $40,000 Maple Leaf Trot eliminations which will offer Ontario race fans their first close-up glimpse of Swedish superstar Sebastian K, who became the fastest trotter ever in his most recent start at Pocono Downs with a 1:49 victory. He’s drawn post six in the third race where his rivals include last year’s OSS champion, Flanagan Memory, from post five.
Another former OSS star featured in the second Maple Leaf Trot elim is Mister Herbie, a winner of $1.7 million to date in his career. He has post five in the eighth race.
Of the 21 fillies entered in the OSS Gold divisions on Friday, there are a remarkable 11 by Sportswriter. Not surprisingly there are several well-bred misses among them. In the first division, race two, Dancin Caroll, a half-sister to $864,000 winner Dancin Yankee, leaves from post three. Beside her in post four is Lady Hill, the first foal of $220,000 winner St Lads Hailaroo. In post seven is Code One Hanover, a daughter of $380,000 winner Current Hanover.
Among the starters in the second split, race 10, is Northern Starlet, the first foal of $278,000 winner Casino Nights. In post seven in that division is the Sportswriter daughter Sports Chic, a half-sister to 2004 U.S. Horse of the Year, Rainbow Blue.
The third and final tilt, race 12, finds a half-sister to $408,000 winner Master Stroke, Mesmerize Bluechip, with the rail. Post six will be Twin B Honour, the first living foal from a sister to $1.4 million winner Our Lucky Killean. Pop Writer, in post seven, is from a sister to two mares with well over $1 million in earnings, Economy Terror and Yellow Diamond.
Also of note in that division is Solar Sister, in post three. The daughter of Mach Three is from $1.4 million winner Cabrini Hanover, whose dam is former OSS star Cathedra a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
Sportswriter, who stands at Tara Hills Stud, in Port Perry, Ont., won $1.6 million during his racing career. His victories included the Metro final at 2 and North America Cup final at 3 for trainer Casie Coleman, who has a number of his offspring in her stable.
The Sportswriter fillies will square off against their OSS counterparts first on Thursday night in the five Grassroots divisions, races one, two, five, eight and nine. The following night the Gold divisions are part of the star studded card in races two, 10 and 12.