CLINTON, ON — An impressive line up of two-year-old pacing colts are headed to Clinton Raceway Sunday afternoon for the second last Grassroots event of the season.
In addition to the Grassroots division leaders, several colts who have spent most of the summer battling in the Gold Series will appear at Clinton, including Robert Hamather’s Cozy Xample.
“He made a couple of breaks that were very disappointing so we thought it would be better to try him in the Grassroots and see if we can get a win into him,” explains Exeter resident Hamather. “I thought maybe we’d be better trying him on a half-mile track.”
The Camluck son’s only victory this season came over the Flamboro Downs half-mile in Gold Elimination action on Aug. 10, where he made his first break as the result of interference early in the 1:59.1 mile. Heading into the Aug. 17 final trainer Bill Robinson thought Cozy Xample was a threat for a top position, but another break in stride left the colt well up the track.
A third miscue in the elimination round for the Metro Pace at Woodbine Racetrack on Aug. 23 made it necessary for the young pacer to requalify and a lacklustre seventh in a division of the Harvest Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 13 earned him a ticket to Clinton for Sunday’s Grassroots event. “It looked like he was going to be a good colt early on,” notes Hamather. “We’ll have to see what happens Sunday.”
Cozy Xample makes his Grassroots debut from Post 6 in the fifth race on Sunday and Hamather is optimistic that the colt will put together a solid effort in the field of seven.
“As long as he behaves himself and doesn’t make a break, he’ll likely be all right,” says the longtime owner and breeder, adding that the Clinton start will be like a homecoming for the colt.
“He trained in Clinton all winter — Paul Taylor had him — and he was given to Bill (Robinson) when he was ready to qualify.”
Among the rivals Cozy Xample will face in the fifth race is two-time Gold Series starter Lucky Brad, who makes his Grassroots debut from Post 7.
Clinton Raceway’s first race gets under way at 1:30 pm, with the gifted two-year-old pacing colts taking over the program in Races 1, 3 and 5 through 12.