Hensley’s first homebred scores in Grassroots

Trainer Ashleigh Hensley has more than 400 wins in her career, and her husband Ed has piloted horses to over $35 million dollars in winnings, but the pair combined for a special harness racing victory on July 3 at Clinton Raceway when their first homebred won the third Grassroots division for two-year-old trotting colts. 

Leaving from post two Floyd The Freak (Archangel) settled into second around the first turn, and Ed popped him from the pocket to take the lead before the quarter-mile pole and set an opening panel of 30.2. 

Bob McClure made a move with Tuscan Prince (Kadabra) just past the half-mile, but he could not track down the Hensley’s son of Archangel, who led the entire way and closed in 29.0 to win by a length.

“We raised him, so Ed knows everything about him,” said Ashleigh. “So, he thought he would give him a shot because he had a good post position and was training well. I thought he did everything right and looked good today.”

Floyd The Freak is out of ABC Garland mare Escuela, who the Hensley’s raced throughout her career, and purchased in the fall of her six-year-old campaign. From October 2016 onward she made 62 starts for them, posting a record of 6-8-9 and earning over $92,000.

“She was good to us. That is why we decided to keep her and breed her,” said Hensley. “Now we have three colts out of her, and (Floyd The Freak) is our first homebred, so it’s pretty special to us.”

Luc Blais trains second place finisher Tuscan Prince who is owned by Determination. Resolve To Win was third for trainer John Bax, whose Bax Stables co-own the colt with Bradley Grant, Gaelic Stable, and Don Allensen. 

The Grassroots action began in race 3 with John Bax trainee Darbyshire (Muscle Mass) winning. James MacDonald navigated a start that saw multiple trotters go off stride out of the gate, and sat in the pocket until the stretch when he popped out and passed Sayonara Royalty who had led until that point. 

“It was a very interesting start. Babies on that track, and first lifetime start is very tricky,” said MacDonald. “Team Bax had told me he was good gaited, and they were spot on. We were rolling along and he sat comfortably. When I tipped him, he knew exactly what to do.”

Darbyshire (Muscle Mass) is owned by Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, Goin To The Show Stable, and Happy Trails Stables.

Second-place finisher Sayonara Royalty (Royalty For Life) is trained by Keith Jones, and owned by Douglas McCarthy. Certified Agent finished third, driven by Matt Bax for his father John. Bax Stables, David Hudson, Gaelic Stable, and Don Allensen own the colt. 

Timonier (Lookslikeachpndale) won the second Grassroots going off a 13-1. Driven by Brett MacDonald from post five he worked his way to the lead by the quarter pole and fended off challenges from Muscle Line (Muscle Up The Goal) and Hasty Bid (My MVP) to win in a photo.

Benoit Baillargeon trains the Lookslikeachpndale colt for owner Jean Dessureault. Muscle Line is trained by Shannon Henry and was driven by her husband Trevor. James MacDonald drove Hasty Bid, who was trainer Paige Austin’s first career starter. The pair co-own the colt. 

Clinton Raceway’s signature race, the Kin Pace for three-year-old Ontario Sired pacing fillies capped off the 10-race card. MacDonald completed a driving hat trick winning in 1:54.3 with Velvet Stinger (Bettors Delight), matching the track record for her age, sex, and gait. 

“It’s fun anytime you can win a signature race and see a good crowd with kids cheering everyone on it’s special,” said MacDonald. “Now I have the Kin Pace off my bucket list.”

The Nick Gallucci trainee benefited from a shoe change prior to the race. 

“I switched her from steel to aluminum to try and get her gait a little lower,” said Gallucci. “She was interfering, bringing her right front foot into her left knee. Now it seems like she’s starting to go underneath her knee which is very beneficial to her gait.”

The win pushed the Bettors Delight filly over $98,000 in earnings for owner Millar Farms. 

For complete race results, click here.

by Austin Stanton, for Ontario Racing