INNISFIL, ON — Three-year-old pacing colt Judge Cam demolished his opponents in the fastest of eight Grassroots divisions at Georgian Downs on Tuesday night.
The Camluck colt and driver Greg Wright, Jr. fired out of Post 5 and led the field through fractions of :28, :58 and 1:26 before sprinting through the final quarter to the 1:54.2 victory. Brandon Camluck sat tucked in behind Judge Cam throughout the mile, but could get no closer than seven and a half lengths at the finish, while Meadow Angus was another two lengths back after a tough trip up the outside.
Greg McNair trains Judge Cam for owner-breeder Charles Lawrence of Blenheim, who has banked $132,568 on the colt’s behalf over the last two seasons. The win was Judge Cam’s second straight and improved his 2002 record to two wins, two seconds and two thirds in 10 starts. A win and a second in Grassroots action give the colt a total of 75 points and a spot amongst the top 16 with three events remaining.
Wright, Jr. made a second appearance in the winner’s circle following Race 10 with Blue Hot Poker. Using the same front-end tactics Wright, Jr. sent the Broadway Blue colt to the front from Post 3 and never relinquished control, crossing the wire three-quarters of a length in front of P J Roy Al in 1:57.3. Armbro Windy, owned by Mardon Stables of Loretto, picked up the third-place finisher’s share of the $15,000 purse.
Lucan resident Andy Hardy trains Blue Hot Poker for his partner Alexander Polishuk of London. The partners have cheered the colt home to five victories, four seconds and two thirds in 15 starts this season, including one second and one third in the first two Grassroots events, giving him a total of 87 points.
Driver Tony Kerwood also scored a double in Grassroots action on Tuesday night. The Woodbine Entertainment Group regular piloted Spencers Victory to a $46.30 upset in the fourth race and then scored a 1:54.4 win with Zacs Rocker in the seventh.
Georgian Downs sent Twin B Gambit off as the heavy favourite in Race 4 and Kerwood tailed the favourite from the rear of the pack through early fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:26.1. When Twin B Gambit pulled to the outside Kerwood sent Spencers Victory after him and both colts ran down pacesetter Voices Carry through the stretch, with Spencers Victory edging in front by three-quarters of a length at the 1:56.4 finish.
George Plyley trains Spencers Victory for Leslie Nagy of Hamilton and the colt leapt up the Grassroots standings with the win, pushing his point total to 87.
Kerwood used similar come-from-behind tactics in the seventh race to get Zacs Rocker to the wire first in 1:54.4. The Caledon resident and wife Susanne, who also trains the Pacific Rocket colt, share ownership rights with Wortzman Pryce Stable of Aurora. Cam Bo Informal and Gothic Boy finished one length back in second and third.
The other divisions went to Cliftons Revenge in 1:55.2, Daylon Harbour in 1:56.4, Macarachi in 1:55 and Miltonheightsflyer in 1:56.2.
The three-year-old pacing colts make the fourth stop on their Grassroots tour Sept. 8 at Clinton Raceway, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Georgian Downs on Saturday, Sept. 21 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old trotting colts.