Pair of upsets in Grassroots starters fields

Two high-priced geldings won the races for three-year-olds who previously started in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series on Tuesday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Final Cheeserecipe (Betterthancheddar) was the bigger upset of the two at 23-1, scoring by two-and-a-half lengths in the pacing dash. He was clocked in a lifetime-best 1:51.1 off a pocket trip created by driver Sylvain Filion. Silk Road Smash (James MacDonald) was second over the favoured Camara Moment (Jody Jamieson).

FINAL CHEESERECIPE REPLAY

Blake Macintosh trains Final Cheeserecipe for Kim and Dan Sergeant of Straffordville. The gelding has won four of his 19 career starts and has now earned $36,526. He also won the second leg of the Ontario Spring Series at long odds.

Lexus Ranger (Archangel) captured the trotting colt and gelding race at 10-1 for trainer/driver Paul MacDonell. The gelding secured early control before giving it up to Hp Maestro (Filion). Lexus Ranger then came out of the pocket in the stretch to roll by that rival and win in 1:54.3. Hp Maestro got second. Armstead Cole (MacDonald) finished third.

LEXUS RANGER REPLAY

Lexus Ranger’s time lowered his lifetime mark. He’s four-for-13 lifetime with $54,100 in earnings for Norm Dustan of Caledon Village, who bred him.

The next Ontario Sires Stakes leg will be on Jul. 9 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, when the pacing males will clash. The trotters will compete a day later at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

The Thursday, Jun. 16 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park will feature the Pop-Up Series Final for pacing fillies and mares. There will also be another Grassroots Starters condition, along with a similar listing for Prospect Series horses. The first field will go behind the gate at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink