Stonebridge Thrill breaks 1:50 in Grassroots

Stonebridge Thrill (Bettors Delight) beat 1:50 for the first time as he captured the first harness racing division of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots fifth leg for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Monday (Sep. 16) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The colt was parked out to the quarter in :26.4 but worked into the four-hole as the field turned for the backstretch while Do Better (Sylvain Filion) went forward to take the lead. The latter cut a :54.3 half but came under pressure from Mcpleasant (James MacDonald) going to three-quarters in 1:22.4, who had Stonebridge Thrill on his back.

Do Better broke at the top of the stretch, leaving Mcpleasant to battle pocket-sitter Chalk Hanover (Jody Jamieson) and Stonebridge Thrill. The three battled across the track into deep stretch, and Stonebridge Thrill muscled past both of them late to prevail by a half-length in 1:49.4.

Mcpleasant held off Chalk Hanover for second.

STONEBRIDGE THRILL REPLAY

The victory was Stonebridge Thrill’s first of the season in 14 starts. The Tony Beaton-trained colt is now three-for-22 lifetime with $86,986 in earnings for Mac and Carol Nichol of Burlington.

The Vicar (Artspeak) captured the second division in a new lifetime mark. The gelding, driven by Jonathan Drury, was parked throughout the first quarter of :26.4 but from seventh to first before the half in :55. He resisted the first-over Lakers Bank (Colin Kelly) to three-quarters in 1:23, then held off pocket-sitter Century Komodo (Doug McNair) in deep-stretch to win by a head in 1:50.1.

Best Night Ever (MacDonald) finished third.

THE VICAR REPLAY

The Vicar, who came to Ontario from Atlantic Canada earlier this season, has now racked up 11 career victories and $81,782 in bankroll in 18 appearances. Tyler Moore trains the gelding for GLB Stable of Lakeview.

More Grassroots action features on the next Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday, Sep. 17. First post is set for 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink