WINDSOR, ON — Ontario’s talented two-year-old trotting colts wrap up their regular Grassroots season at Windsor Raceway this Saturday amid a celebration of the Ontario Sires Stakes program’s 30th anniversary.
To mark 30 years of excellence in the provincial program Windsor invites fans turning 30 in 2003, 2004 or 2005 to pop a balloon and win a prize. The Birthday Balloon Bash, located just inside the main entrance, begins at 6:30 pm and goes until all balloons are popped.
On track the two-year-old trotting colts will get things popping in Races 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. With a spot in the Oct. 24 Grassroots Semifinal at stake the youngsters hovering on the edge of the current point cut off of 58 will be putting the pedal to the metal in all five divisions.
Among the colts looking to make a leap into the post season is Tyrone Burberry, who sits just below the cut off with 50 points earned from a win in the Sept. 25 Grassroots event at Hiawatha Horse Park. Another solid effort from Post 1 in Race 4 could see the King Conch son extend his freshman campaign with just two regular season starts on his resume.
Trainer Bob McIntosh of La Salle shares ownership on Tyrone Burberry with breeder Dave Boyle of Bowmanville and the partners will be looking for a more successful outing over Windsor’s five-eighths mile oval than the colt delivered in the Aug. 3 Gold Final, where he made a break at the three-quarter pole.
Don McElroy will pilot Tyrone Burberry on Saturday, and the veteran reinsman will be looking for a few more points to pad his lead atop the Lampman Cup standings. McElroy captured the Cup, awarded since 1987 to the top driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, in 2001 and 2002 while McIntosh claimed the top trainer award, the Johnston Cup, in the same years. This season McElroy sits just 26 points ahead of veteran Ross Battin, while McIntosh is well back of leader Bill Robinson in the Johnston Cup race.
While McIntosh and McElroy aim to extend Tyrone Burberry’s Grassroots season, Windsor resident Dennis Fairall and trainer George Zirnis of Elmira are simply hoping that Bad Boy Roy and Tommys Tele gain some experience that will stand them in good stead as three-year-olds.
Both colts have just one Grassroots race under their belt, and both will be hampered by outside posts. Bad Boy Roy starts from Post 7 in the second race and Tommys Tele, also owned by Clarence and Tery Devos of Langton, gets Post 9 in Race 6.
Among the top colts that Windsor Raceway fans will have their eyes on are division leaders Shady Suspect from Post 4 in Race 10 and Earl Of Openwood from Post 9 in the fourth race.
Windsor Raceway’s first race parades onto the track at 7:25 pm Saturday, and the two-year-old trotting colts duel in Races 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.