Freshmen flock to Mohawk for Grassroots

A five-division harness racing cohort of two-year-old trotting colts and geldings visited Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday (Aug. 2) for leg three of the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots.

New Rules (Lookslikeachpndale) fired out from post nine for Austin Sorrie and led at every call to take his first career win in the opening division as forecasted by his 4/5 billing. Watch A Pro (Matthew Bax) closed the gap with a late charge but could do no better than second. Glenfidich (Trevor Henry) finished third.

NEW RULES REPLAY

New Rules, trained by Marcel Barrieau, was sold for $75,000 at the London Selected sale. He has won one of his three starts and earned $16,850. Barrieau, a resident of Cambridge, co-owns the gelding with Gestion Mastel Inc. of Longueil.

Nothingbutadreamer (Muscle Mass) built upon his leg two victory last out with an open-length win in the second division. He caught double cover on the final turn after Doug McNair pulled him out of fifth, and he rolled past three foes in the stretch to score in 1:58. Rough Tuff Tested (Henry) gained the lead at three-quarters and came home second after surrendering to the winner. Lava Field (A. Eddie Green) closed for third.

NOTHINGBUTADREAMER REPLAY

Nothingbutadreamer has won two straight in the Grassroots after a fifth-place finish on debut and a break in an OSS Gold two weeks later. He has earned $23,200. Harry Poulton conditions the colt for The Stable’s Nothinbutadremr group.

Tuscan Prince (Kadabra) laid down the fastest mile of the leg in his third division 1:56.3 victory.

Bob McClure unleashed him from third nearing three-eighths to take the lead, and the gelding cruised to victory lane from there. The favoured Hasty Bid (Louis-Philipe Roy) chased him down the stretch but was lacking another length-and-three-quarters. Floyd The Freak (Ed Hensley) clawed to third at the pylons.

TUSCAN PRINCE REPLAY

A four-length winner in leg two, Tuscan Prince is now two-for-four lifetime and has earned $27,950. Determination bought the gelding for $45,000 from the London Selected sale. Luc Blais trains him for the stable.

Busting With Pride (Resolve), making his third career start, snagged a maiden-breaking win in the fourth split. Henry’s tactics did not differ from the first two legs, dropping back to sixth, but they swung off cover on the final turn and rocketed home to romp by two-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:58.4. All Star Yankee (Jody Jamieson) closed behind the leader for place. Fantastic Mvp (McClure) surged between horses to take third.

BUSTING WITH PRIDE REPLAY

Robert McIntosh Stables of Windsor and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville bred and own the gelding. Robert McIntosh has trained him to $18,626 in earnings to date.

Take On Me (Muscle Mass) shied away from a speed battle and took the four-hole for Roy in the final group, which became third as the leader broke stride. Roy marched him first-over turning for home, and the gelding soared off to a six-and-a-half-length score in 1:58.2. Airborne (McClure) held off the charging Timonier (Sylvain Filion) for second.

TAKE ON ME REPLAY

The Illinois-bred Take On Me was a $7,000 purchase at the Land Of Lincoln sale. He has earned $15,044 in three outings. Meg Crone conditions the gelding for owner W. J. Donovan of Delray Beach.

The two-year-old male trotters continue their Grassroots campaign on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Tuscan Prince now leads the division with 125 points.

For complete OSS standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink