The entry box was flooded with freshman talent for Monday’s card of racing at Grand River Raceway, as two-year-old pacing colts and geldings sparred in seven OSS Grassroots divisions.
Bridge Of Stone, who was making his debut for trainer Carmen Auciello following a private purchase, rallied to take the first split in 1:57.3 with driver Scott Coulter in tow. The gelding got away in the back-half of the pack, but he tracked cover and eventually soared to the lead in the closing strides thanks in large part to his :28.1 closing panel. The son of Stonebridge Regal-Dreamlands Sachi defeated race favourite Jeb and Steves Legacy.
The 1:57.3 score gave the rookie his second win in as many tries, and the lion’s share of the $18,000 purse lifted his lifetime loot to $18,000. Denarben Stables of Thornhill and Rocco Auciello of Stouffville, Ontario own the undefeated youngster.
Big Moment went to the front and didn’t look back in the second division en route to a 1:56.1 decision in the second division. Alfie Carroll hustled the colt to the top and cut out fractions of :28.1, :57 and 1:26 before using a :30.1 final frame to fend off runner-up Supersonic Jet by three-quarters of a length. Third prize went to Fightmaster.
It was a maiden-breaking score for the homebred son of Camluck-Breathtacular, who is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc of Windsor and Max Newham of Merlin, Ontario. He’s banked $11,160 in his first two starts.
Mikes Powerhouse, the full-brother to Canada’s 2012 Horse of the Year, Michaels Power (1:48.1 - $1,614,755), won his pari-mutuel debut in 1:56.4 in the third division. The son of Camluck-Michelles Jackpot sprinted to the lead after starting from the second tier and successfully sliced out fractions of :28.2, :58 and 1:27.2 before roaring home in :29.2 to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Double Decker. Race favourite Ace Of Clubs had to settle for the show dough.
Trevor Henry worked out the winning trip for the Casie Coleman-trained homebred, who is owned by Jeffrey Snyder of New York.
Coleman also watched Sportskeeper post a 1:56.3 victory in the next division. Jody Jamieson pointed the favourite to the lead right from the word “Go”, and the son of Sportswriter-Keeper Flying whacked out panels of :28.2, :59 and 1:29 before uncorking a :27.3 kicker to win by 8-1/4 lengths. Mars Man was the distant runner-up, while Star Cover rounded out the top three finishers.
Coleman shares ownership on the homebred colt with partner Merlin Howse of Langton, Ontario.
The Fire Within, the half-brother to Illusionist (1:50 - $1,008,307), turned a two-hole trip into a 1:57.4 triumph for driver Jody Jamieson. The son of Whosurboy-Mollie Hanover stalked leader Sports Lightning through fractions of :28.1, :57 and 1:27.3 before using a :30-second closing quarter to win by 1-1/2 lengths over the front-stepping favourite. One Crazy Eagle rallied to finish third.
Fred Drouillard of Dutton, Ontario bred, trains and owns the pacing gelding who owns a 2-0-1 record after three starts. The $9,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $13,160.
Half A Billion is 2-for-2 to start his career thanks to a 1:57.3 triumph in his division for the tandem of driver Mike Saftic and trainer Marcel Barrieau. The son of Sportswriter-Racey Date sat third to the quarter pole before marching to the lead in the second quarter. He cut out middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.3 before rolling home in a :29-second clip en route to notching the win by 1-1/4 lengths. Thinkofagameplan was second under the line, with Draft Seelster taking home third prize.
Sent off as the second choice in the wagering, the homebred bumped his bank account to $18,000 for owner/breeder Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc of Hudson, Quebec. The rookie is a half-brother to the multiple stakes-winning filly, Racey Miss (1:51.3 - $221,164).
Single White Sock was the quickest divisional winner on the card thanks to his 1:56 tally in the final division for the duo of driver Scott Coulter and trainer Barry Treen. Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the colt fired to the front and laid down fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:27.3 before finishing off the competition with a :28.2 closing panel. Twin B Scandal was 2-3/4 lengths in arrears, while Pan Street USA was more than five lengths back in third.
Len Gamble of Etobicoke, Ontario owns the son of Badlands Hanover-Love You Dear, who was a $24,000 purchase from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale. The career winner of $18.480 is a half-brother to Ramegade Bruiser (1:49.4 - $1,196,776).