WOODSTOCK, ON — On a day that felt more like the middle of March than the middle of May, the three-year-old trotting colts impressed Woodstock Raceway fans in six Grassroots divisions on Saturday afternoon.
Royal King Pin kicked off Woodstock’s first Ontario Sires Stakes event with the fastest mile of the afternoon, sailing home in 2:02.4. The Royal Strength son surprised everyone but trainer-driver George Zirnis, who has been waiting two years for the young trotter to deliver on his potential.
Favourites Don McElroy and Electrical Image took the early lead from Post 2, reaching the half in 1:01.3 before being overtaken by Zirnis and Royal King Pin. At the three-quarter pole Royal King Pin was on top by one length, at the top of the lane he had stretched it to six lengths and at the wire he was a full eight lengths ahead of Bootin Barney, leaving Electrical Image to settle for third-place.
The Smart Cat Stable of Elmira own Royal King Pin, who pushed his lifetime earnings to $18,724 with the victory, his second this season.
Fans who braved the cold winds until the eleventh race were treated to the most exciting finish of the afternoon when the top five colts crossed the wire within a length of one another.
Dream Promise stepped off the gate sharply and led the field through fractions of :30, 1:01.2 and 1:31.4, looking for all the world like an easy winner at the top of the stretch. However, the cavalry was preparing to mount a charge and through the final strides St Patricks Gold reached up to steal the 2:03.2 victory for trainer-driver Paul Mackenzie and S S G Stables of North Boston, NY.
Groovy Grant finished a neck behind the winner, Dream Promise and race favourite Lukes McChamp were three-quarters of a length back and Early Success was just one length out of the winner’s circle. The win was the first of the season for St Patricks Gold and the second lifetime for the Brisco Hanover son.
The other Grassroots divisions went to J Ls Sunny Boy in 2:03, Incredible Cole in 2:04.4, Willing And Abel in 2:05.1 and Armbro Warrior in 2:06.
The sophomore trotting colts make their next Ontario Sires Stakes stop at Kawartha Downs on June 8. Woodstock Raceway fans will be treated to more OSS excitement on Saturday, July 6 when the two-year-old trotting colts make their Grassroots debut.