Two break maidens in Grassroots

A pair of harness racing rookies scored their first career victories in the fourth Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots for two-year-old trotting males on Tuesday (Sep. 3) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Stmikes Kerryblues (Green Manalishi S, Sylvain Filion) was the first to do so in the second of four divisions.

The Kyle Fellows-trained colt popped the pocket to take over in the second quarter, benefited from calamity behind him as two rivals hooked wheels down the stretch, and came home a two-and-three-quarter-length winner in 1:57.3. Gucci Gucci Goo (Jonathan Drury) held on for second over Gaslight Hall (James MacDonald).

STMIKES KERRYBLUES REPLAY

Stmikes Kerryblues, named after the football team of St. Michael’s College, was previously 0-for-seven with a show finish in his only other Grassroots start. The colt has earned $27,113 for owners Yolanda Fellows and Edward and Beverle Wilson.

The second maiden-breaker was First Class Rule (Muscle Mass, Todd Ratchford). The colt, coming of a third-place finish in the Balanced Image Final, went all the way in a 1:58.2 victory in the third split. Getthegreen (Roger Mayotte) showed late trot to take second. The Time Machine (Drury) closed for show.

FIRST CLASS RULE REPLAY

First Class Rule, trained by Matt Bax, has earned $20,083 in six career starts. He is owned by Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, Gaelic Stable, and Ronald Van Noort.

The first division went to Hay Dad (Muscle Mass, Bob McClure), who cut the mile and held off Cleveland Royalty (Tyler Borth) to win by a half-length in 1:59.1. Royal Life (Trevor Henry) was third.

HAY DAD REPLAY

Hay Dad is now two-for-five with both victories coming in the Grassroots. Mark Etsell trains the gelding, who has now earned $26,440, for Terry Devos, Peter Porter, and James Whelan.

Cousin Halifax (Trixton) captured the final division for back-to-back scores. Trevor Henry sent the gelding on a front-end mission, which he completed in 1:56 in a one-length win. Day (Louis-Philippe Roy) was second, more than four lengths clear of Captain Suzuki (Filion).

COUSIN HALIFAX REPLAY

Cousin Halifax has now earned $27,000 in four appearances with a place finish in his other Grassroots try.

The next card at Woodbine Mohawk Park is set for Thursday, Sep. 5 with a first post time of 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink