Sunshine Beach son impresses in Grassroots

Ahi Sunshine (Sunshine Beach) crushes his opponents in the opening Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots harness racing leg for three-year-old pacing colts on Tuesday (Jun. 6) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The colt brushed to the lead from fourth for Bob McClure after a :27.1 first panel. He carried speed into the second split, hitting the half in :55.1.

No one could stick with him to three-quarters, and he opened up a six-length lead as he fired to that station in 1:23.2. He pulled further away coming down the stretch and coasted to a six-and-three-quarter-length victory in 1:51.1.

Troubles A Brewin (Louis-Philippe Roy) motored home to take second from Gandalf The Black (James MacDonald).

AHI SUNSHINE REPLAY

It was a promising start to the Grassroots for the colt who finished third in last year’s final and was second in a Gold Series race. The win brought a new lifetime mark for him. David Drew is training Ahi Sunshine, now a six-time winner in 13 starts with $96,979 in earnings, for Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson, Allen Sellen of St. Catherines, and Bridle Path Stables of Ossining.

Nightime Dancer (Sunshine Beach, Jody Jamieson) also lowered his career best with a 1:51.2 victory in the second division. He crossed the line a length-and-three-quarters winner under wraps. Artsalive (Doug McNair) finished second over the charging Sauble Ace (McClure). Nightime Dancer is now three-for-10 lifetime with $52,452 in earnings for trainer Rod Boyd and 1187422 Ontario Inc.

NIGHTIME DANCER REPLAY

Palladium Hanover (Artspeak, McClure) and Shadows Terror (Trevor Henry) put on a show with a drawn-out stretch battle in the third division. Shadows Terror took the lead into the lane and held it to the last strides, when Palladium Hanover got his head past to win in 1:53. Full Horse (Louis-Philippe Roy) finished third. The winner’s record is now nine wins and $57,285 earned in 16 total starts. Jodie Cullen trains the gelding for Wayne MacRae of Fall River and Daniel Ross of Belfast (PE).

PALLADIUM HANOVER REPLAY

Joker On Jack (Bettors Delight, Tyler Borth) won the fourth division, handily holding off The Moment Arose by a length-and-a-quarter to win in 1:52.4. Wry (McNair) closed for show. Joker On Jack is now one-for-five this season and three-for-12 lifetime with $46,400 in earnings. Menary Racing of Rockton, Michael Guerriero of Brampton, Alan Alber of Thornhill, and Larry Menary of Branchton own the gelding; Dave Menary trains him.

JOKER ON JACK REPLAY

Sounds Good (Bettors Delight, McNair) captured the final division with a late thrust to catch odds-on favourite Reign Supreme (Roy) by a neck in 1:52.1. All Attitude (McClure) was seven-and-a-half lengths back of the winner in third. Sounds Good has four wins in 11 lifetime tries and has collected $169,776 in earnings for Michael and Sam Sergi of Canton. Gregg McNair trains the gelding.

SOUNDS GOOD REPLAY

The Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots series resumes on Jun. 16 with the second leg for three-year-old pacing fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will host the top OSS tier – two Gold divisions – on Thursday, Jun. 8. First post is set for 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink