Captain Suzuki knocks one out in Grassroots Consolation

Captain Suzuki (Muscle Mass) broke his maiden in a sharp closing effort in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Consolation for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Friday (Sep. 27) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The gelding pulled out of fifth on the final turn for Doug McNair, grabbing cover to the top of the lane, and he took off with a fleet turn of foot, charging past Stonebridge Praise (Tyler Jones) in the last 1/16th of a mile. Nickel And Dime (Matt Bax) closed even faster, but Captain Suzuki held on by a head to complete the victory in 1:58.4. Nickel And Dime was second with Stonebridge Praise a half-length back in third.

CAPTAIN SUZUKI REPLAY

Captain Suzuki is now one-for-nine but is a potential horse to watch next season, having earned cheques in Ontario Sires Stakes Golds and finishing second in the Balanced Image. The Gregg McNair-trained gelding has earned $45,970. McNair bred him and co-owns with Dean Lockhart.

Fancy Lettering (Stag Party, Louis-Philippe Roy) took the three-year-old pacing filly consolation, going gate-to-wire to win in 1:51.2 for trainer Chantal Mitchell and owner/breeder Dale Towle. She is now four-for-17 lifetime with $52,670 in earnings.

FANCY LETTERING REPLAY

Northernchancellor (Muscle Mass, Doug McNair), having made just two Grassroots starts this year, got by Slayn Theday Away (Travis Cullen) at the end of a stretch duel for the 1:57.1 lifetime-best victory in the sophomore trotting male consolation. Shane Arsenault owns and trains the winner, who has won four times in 31 career outings and has earned $76,388.

NORTHERNCHANCELLOR REPLAY

Sugar Pie Honey (Bettors Delight, Doug McNair) secured her second career win and a new mark in the two-year-old pacing filly consolation, getting up by a half-length to score in 1:53.4. She is two-for-six for Nick Gallucci and Millar Farms.

SUGAR PIE HONEY REPLAY

The two-year-old filly trot consolation went to Green Glider (Green Manalishi, Trevor Henry), who bottomed out the field on the final turn and cruised to a 1:57.1 victory. The Scott McEneny-conditioned filly has now tallied two wins and $39,848 in earnings for Andrea Lea Racing Stables.

GREEN GLIDER REPLAY

Belmont Blazer (Big Jim, Travis Cullen) pulled away down the lane to snag the consolation for rookie pacing colts and geldings, stopping the clock in 1:53.3. Jodie Cullen has trained the gelding to two wins and $32,650 in earnings from nine starts for owner/breeder Travis Cullen.

BELMONT BLAZER REPLAY

Billie Jean Queen (Royalty For Life, Henry) went all the way in the three-year-old trotting filly consolation and extended her advantage in the final quarter, completing the victory with a 1:55.3 clocking and three-and-a-half-length margin. She went to new connections last month and is now trained by Lindsey Kerr, who co-owns the filly with Marc Adams, Mark Manherz, and Todd Kerr.

BILLIE JEAN QUEEN REPLAY

The final consolation, for three-year-old pacing males, ended in a dead heat. Bet The Bb (All Bets Off, Travis Cullen) went up the pylons and took the lead in mid-stretch, but Why Wouldnt Ya (Bettors Delight, Doug McNair) rolled up late, and the pair crossed the line simultaneously to tie for the win in 1:51.3.

BET THE BB/WHY WOULDNT YA REPLAY

Jodie Cullen trains Bet The Bb, a 10-time winner in 34 starts with $80,575 in the bank, for Travis Cullen. The David Brown-trained Why Wouldnt Ya is now five-for-31 lifetime with $110,789 in earnings. Brown bred the gelding and shares ownership with Gary Brethour. Both horses took new lifetime marks in the race.

Doug McNair drove four winners on the 10-race card.

Following the consolations, the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Finals are set for Saturday, Sep. 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. First post is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink