DRESDEN, ON — Dresden Raceway fans will be treated to an extra dose of Ontario Sires Stakes excitement on Sunday when the two-year-old pacing colts bring their Grassroots show to town. Originally scheduled for last Saturday at Woodstock Raceway, the event was cancelled due to concerns about the rotating blackouts so the colts are rested and raring to go.
Local colt Grampas Dream will be looking to boost his Grassroots point total with a strong finish in the first division. The Apaches Fame son, owned by Robert B. Chapple of Chatham, has one fourth and one fifth-place finish to his credit through two Grassroots event and could jump into the top 16 with a solid effort from Post 6 on Sunday.
Among the youngsters Grampas Fame will face is Island Zeeker, who has one Grassroots win under his belt and would like to add another to his resume at Dresden. The Albert Albert son will start from Post 8 in the first race and trainer Scott McNiven says the trailing position may be a good spot for the novice pacer.
“As long as everyone behaves well in front of him the eight-hole might be a good thing, because you can take your time a little more and not rush him,” says the Putnam resident. “If he were on the gate there might be a tendency to leave — because he is maybe one of the better ones in there — and it is a tight turn.”
In the July 25 Battle of Waterloo Eliminations at Elmira Raceway, Island Zeeker saw his hopes for a berth in the $200,000 Final wash up on the first turn when he struggled with driver Ray McLean’s request to move down to the rail after blasting out of Post 4. Instead of making a smooth crossover, the gelding made a break and finished out of contention.
“He just couldn’t handle the turn at that speed,” explains McNiven. “He looked like he was going to land close to the front, but he wouldn’t cross over.”
Island Zeeker heads into Sunday’s contest off an Aug. 7 prep at Hiawatha Horse Park where he paced a solid 1:56.3 mile against older competition. While the gelding did not hit the board, McNiven was still pleased with the performance and hopes the young pacer is catching on to the business of racing.
“We were really happy with him. He couldn’t get out, but he looked like a racehorse,” says the trainer. “He’s just on the edge of whether he can do in the Gold Series or not, but in the fall, two or three more starts down the road, I think he will be able to.”
After his victory in the first Grassroots event, McNiven and owner Donald Douglas of Ingersoll opted to give Island Zeeker a try in the Gold Series, where he finished sixth in his July 10 elimination. To earn another shot at the province’s top colts Island Zeeker and regular driver Greg Dustin will be looking for a solid performance on Sunday.
Dresden Raceway sends the first division of two-year-old pacing colts to the post at 1 pm and the youngsters also star in Races 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. In addition to the 11 exciting Grassroots divisions, Dresden also inherited two divisions of the popular Summertime Series which will wrap up the action-packed program in Races 14 and 15.