Innisfil, ON --- Ontario’s 2-year-old trotting colts kicked off the second half of their Grassroots season at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening (Aug. 4) with six impressive performances.
“There were some good miles out there,” said Steve Byron. “They’re getting their second or third start and they’re starting to figure it out, a lot of them, and they’re getting a lot better for sure.”
Byron piloted Manofmanyimages to a win in the fifth $13,680 Grassroots division, going gate-to-wire from post four. The duo rolled through fractions of :30.1, 1:01 and 1:30.4 without facing a challenge, cruising home two length winners in 2:00.4. Dynamic Edge and Cooper finished second and third.
“He’s a big strong colt, but he doesn’t pay attention all the time,” noted the reinsman. “He seems to be getting a little better. He’s a fast enough horse I think.”
Tuesday evening was the second time Byron has piloted the Manofmanymissions son for trainer John Bax and owners Richard Gutnick, T L P Stable and Joseph Lozito Jr. In their first Ontario Sires Stakes outing, at Mohawk Racetrack on July 28, Manofmanyimages made a late break as Byron sent him up the outside after the lead and the pair had to settle for fourth.
“They had some issues just rigging him up properly and they were trying some things on him, but he’s (Bax) got him pretty much sorted out now I think,” said Byron. “Like I said, if he minds his manners and pays attention to everything he can trot.”
A $70,000 purchase from the Harrisburg yearling sale, Manofmanyimages moved into Bax’s barn in early July after being qualified twice by New York-based trainer Ed Hart. With one fourth and one win in his first two Grassroots starts the colt has accumulated 58 points toward a berth in the post season.
In addition to his win with Manofmanyimages, Byron recorded a runner-up finish with Rose Run Rudi, finishing in a dead-heat for second with Grego. Byron steers Rose Run Rudi for his brother David Byron, James Cantelon, David Cantelon and Craig Wallwin.
The colts hit the wire 4-1/2 lengths behind Willyorwonthe, who recorded his second straight Grassroots victory for driver Mike Saftic and trainer, owner and breeder Bill Megens. The heavy favorites took control heading for the :59.2 half and cruised home unchallenged in 1:58.4. The win was the Angus Hall son’s third in five starts.
Saftic also scored a win in the first Grassroots division, sprinting down the stretch with Money Mission to claim a half-length victory over favorite Georgies Pockets in 1:59.2. Cool Creek Victory was 2-3/4 lengths back in third.
Rick Zeron conditions Money Mission for his partners Cool Cat Racing Inc. and Paul Marion. The Manofmanymissions son also has a second and a fifth to his credit through three Grassroots appearances.
Thee Desperado picked up his second Grassroots trophy in the second division, squeezing up the inside to a neck victory over JLs Bad Moon Risin. Windsun Missile was 1-1/2 lengths behind the dueling leaders in third.
Steve Condren engineered Thee Desperado’s 2:00.2 victory for trainer Brent Belore and owners Karen and Daniel MacIntyre, Joshua McKibbin and Nancy Newport. Another son of Manofmanymissions, Thee Desperado has a perfect 100 points through two Grassroots starts.
Muscle Time added another win to his resume in the third division, leading the field by as many as nine lengths before sailing under the wire two lengths on top in 2:00.1. Fan favorite United BI settled for second, with Defi Normand rounding out the top three.
Darryl Laver bred, owns, trains and drives Muscle Time, who is a Muscle Mass son from his former race mare Spare Time Rozie.
The last Grassroots trophy of the evening was captured by Wildwild Men, who jumped to the top of the division standings with a 2:00.3 score over Magic Missions and Sass. Robert Shepherd crafted the gate-to-wire victory for trainer Isabelle Darveau and owners Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel.