INNISFIL, ON — Zoltar Seelster logged the fastest of four Grassroots divisions at Georgian Downs on Saturday night, maintaining a perfect record of two wins in two starts at the Grassroots level.
Georgian Downs fans sent the Eager Seelster son and driver Ron Waples off as their top choice and the pair did not give them a moment of worry as they took control of the race just past the quarter mile marker and sailed home to a three and three-quarter length win in 2:01.1. Trainer Scott McEneny of Waterdown and John Fielding of Toronto own Zoltar Seelster, who dropped into the Grassroots in time for the Sept. 2 event at Elmira Raceway after butting heads through the early season with the Gold Series colts.
Saturday’s win bumped the colt’s earnings to $42,046 and improved his record to three wins and two seconds in nine starts. The 2:01.1 victory over Call To Order and Rueben Syn was a personal best for Zoltar Seelster, who also moved into a tie for third-place in the division standings.
In the last division first time starter Streak Shower surprised fans with his 2:03 victory, returning $63.70 to win, $38.20 to place and $5.80 to show to his supporters. Trainer Bryan Wick shares ownership on Streak Shower with his wife Donna and Jim McClure piloted the colt to the win for the Elmira residents.
McClure and Streak Shower landed in seventh spot as the starting gate moved away from the field and were 16 lengths off the red hot pace set by Parkhill Zzar at the :28.2 opening quarter. By the :59.4 half the duo were 10 lengths back, but McClure had the colt within two lengths of the leaders as things started to cool off past the 1:30.4 three-quarters.
By the wire Streak Shower had things well in hand, finishing one and a half lengths ahead of local entry Mystical Mac, owned by MacDonnell Stables of Allenford and Northorn Stable of Innisfil. Favourite Bone Crusher was relegated to third, three and one quarter lengths to the rear. The Streak Shower and Mystical Mac exactor returned $249.40 and adding Bone Crusher to the mix resulted in a eyebrow raising $2,809.70 triactor pay out.
The favourites also went up in smoke in the other two Grassroots divisions. In the first race C S Ruff Start finally reached the winner’s circle in provincial action after three unsuccessful attempts. Dave Boughton piloted the Brisco Hanover colt to the 2:02.2 win over Hieway Earl and Odee Tantie for trainer Mark Steacy of Lansdowne and David Reid of Kingston.
Yankee Fission gave trainer Scott McEneny and driver Jim McClure their first win of the night in Race 2, hitting the wire in 2:03.2. The Balanced Image son made his racing debut in the Elmira Raceway Grassroots on Sept. 2, logging a third-place finish, and Saturday night’s victory over Turn That Down and favourite Mr Tantalizer was just his second lifetime start.
Newman Racing Stable of Bryn Mawr, PA, Jerry and Rosalie Silva of Bellmore, NY and Sampson Street stables of Old Forge, PA own the chestnut trotter, who moved into contention for a post season berth with the win.
The two-year-old trotting colts make their final Grassroots start at Western Fair Raceway on Oct. 12 before returning to Georgian Downs for a pair of $30,000 Semifinals on Nov. 2. The top four finishers from each Semifinal will then appear at the Innisfil oval on the two-year-old Grassroots Championship Night, Nov. 9, in their $100,000 Final.
Before the freshman season finale Georgian Downs hosts Grassroots action for the three-year-old trotting fillies on Oct. 12 and the two-year-old pacing colts on Oct. 19.