Johnston Cup recipient Gregg McNair sending out two

The 2021 and 2020 Johnston and Lampman Cup winners will receive their trophies Friday, May 27, at The Raceway at the Western Fair District with four Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies on the $414,000 Camluck Classic harness racing card.

Gregg McNair won the 2021 Johnston Cup as the leading OSS trainer. He has starters in two of four $22,000 Grassroots divisions.

The rural Guelph, Ont., resident is harnessing two daughters of Sportswriter; Fade Out in the first Grassroots division, race two on the card, and Mighty Melissa in the second Grassroots division and fourth race of the evening.

“Fade Out is a good filly, but drew poorly, but she’s a good one right now,” said McNair. “She has good gate speed, so she should be all right. Trevor Henry is driving her, and he knows his way around London really good.”

To build on over $100,000 OSS earnings last season she will have to overcome leaving from the seven hole.

The filly had a solid showing in the SBOA Final last Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where she finished fourth and paced a mile in 1:51.4, for McNair’s ownership partners Dean Lockhart, and McKinlay & Fielding.

Mighty Melissa, owned by a group that includes McNair, Ross Family Farms Ltd., Wayne C Mac Rae, and Ross B Holmes drew a more favourable post, leaving from the rail in race four with Louis-Philippe Roy driving.

Lightly raced at two – she made only two OSS starts in her novice campaign, winning a Grassroots division at Georgian Downs – the filly was seventh in her only start this season at Woodbine Mohawk Park
Races six and eight are the remaining Grassroots divisions on the card.

The morning line favours Momentarily in race six. She posted a record of 3-1-3 in nine starts as two-year-old. 2020 Lampman Cup winner Bob McClure will drive the Daniel Lagace trainee from post seven.

The final OSS race of the evening saw Motovation from Michael Kwietniowski’s barn installed as the favourite. In four Grassroots starts as a freshman, the filly won once, was second twice, and earned over $22,000. Louis-Philippe Roy is in the race bike.

2020 Johnston Cup winner Shawn Steacy doesn’t have an OSS entry, but will have horses on the card in the City of London Series.

CAMLUCK CLASSIC OSS PRESENCE

The feature race on the card, the $150,000 Camluck Classic presented by Seelster Farms, has three Ontario Sired horses in the field.

In post three is Tattoo Artist (Hes Watching), a two-year-old Super Final champion, and winner of nine additional Gold legs over two seasons. Trained by Dr. Ian Moore, the five-year-old won two divisions of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series at Yonkers in April.

“He’s doing great. He trained well Tuesday,” said Moore. “He gets around the half pretty well, so it should be an advantage where he is sitting post position as well.”

James MacDonald will drive the stallion, on the night he receives his 2021 Lampman Cup.

Tattoo Artist is joined by Jimmy Freight, a son of Sportswriter who made his return to the racetrack in December 2021 following a two-year absence after entering the breeding shed.

The seven-year-old stallion enters the race off five straight wins in the top class at Mohawk, including a come from behind win last time out over Tattoo Artist.

“Jimmy Freight certainly made a believer out of me the prior week at Mohawk. He came from way back to beat Tattoo Artist,” said Moore. “He could certainly be the toughest one in there, but it’s one of the strongest fields I’ve seen in recent years.”

Poseidon Seelster is the final OSS alumni in the race is. Bred by the title sponsor, the son of Sunshine Beach has a record of 2-1-3 in 11 starts this season. He drew the rail post for Friday evening for trainer Donald Lindsey. Bob McClure gets the drive.

For current Ontario Sires Stakes standings, click here.

For complete race entries, click here.

From the Ontario Sires Stakes