Freshmen pacers complete Grassroots regular season

The preliminary Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots rounds for two-year-old pacing males concluded on Monday (Sep. 12) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with four divisions of the fifth leg.

Joker On Jack (Bettors Delight) notched his first Grassroots win of the season in a narrow closing victory in 1:53.3. He nipped Watch My Chips (Sylvain Filion) on the line. Scribblers (Bob McClure) went from ninth to third.

JOKER ON JACK REPLAY

The Dave Menary-trained Joker On Jack is now two-for-six in his rookie season and has earned $26,950. Menary Racing of Rockton, Michael Guerriero of Brampton, Alan Alber of Thornhill, and Larry Menary of Branchton own the gelding.

Reign Supreme (Control The Moment) controlled the tempo and took his third win in five starts this season.

McClure drove the colt to a lifetime-best 1:53.2 victory over Thong Control (Filion) and The Golden Jet (Jody Jamieson).

REIGN SUPREME REPLAY

Reign Supreme was stepping down from the Gold level, at which he finished fourth. He has won both Grassroots tries to date. John Pentland trains the colt for Zachary Carroll of Shedden.

Hes A Sweetheart (Hes Watching, James MacDonald) broke his maiden with an overland trip, advancing on the rim and vaulting off cover to victory in the stretch. He was clocked in 1:53.2 whil beating Fade To Light (Filion) and Watchmaker (Chris Christoforou).

HES A SWEETHEART REPLAY

The winner has started eight times for $23,778 in earnings for trainer Dave Menary and the ownership group of Menary Racing, Guerriero, and Alber.

Favoured Ahi Sunshine (Sunshine Beach) wrapped up the leg with a second Grassroots win of the year for McClure in 1:52.4. The colt rallied down the lane to score by a length-and-a-half over Wise Thinking (Trevor Henry) and Bettor Bea Terror (Tyler Jones).

AHI SUNSHINE REPLAY

It was the fourth win in eight tries for Ahi Sunshine, who was second in a Gold on Sep. 3. Shawn Steacy conditions the colt for breeder Hudson Standardbred Stable, which co-owns with Allen Sellen of St. Catherines and Bridle Path Stables of Ossining.

The Grassroots semi-finals for the two-year-old pacing colts are set for Thursday, Sep. 22 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Also on the card, Forbidden Trade (Kadabra) increased his career win total to 25 with a 1:52.3 victory in the $45,500 Open Handicap Trot. McClure steered the six-year-old stallion to victory for trainer Luc Blais and owner Determination.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will host the conclusion of another Grassroots series – for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings – on Tuesday, Sep. 13.

For complete OSS standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink