INNISFIL, ON — Fall reappeared for the three-year-old trotting colts’ last regular season event at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening, bringing with it a sloppy track rated three seconds slower than normal and a blanket of fog that obscured much of the last division.
In spite of the conditions, most of the favourites still managed to deliver solid performances to cement their positions in the Oct. 26 Grassroots Semifinal, including division leader Mr Garjangles. The Mr Lavec son posted a nine length, wire-to-wire victory in the sixth race to wrap up the regular season with an unblemished record of four wins in four Grassroots starts.
Trained by Cal Campbell for Canamerica Capital Corp. of Milton, Doug Millard Holdings Inc. of Woodstock and Stephen Scarff of Bedford, NS, Mr Garjangles threw his hat into the ring with the Gold colts at the start of the season, but settled into the Grassroots in time for the July 3 event at Hiawatha Horse Park.
Sno Goal trotted into second-place in the 2:02 mile, with long shot Fact B a length back in third.
Stephen Byron had a successful evening, piloting John Bax trainees Sno Goal and Parkhill Zzar to second and third-place finishes and Brent Belore trainee Jayport Express to a victory.
Leaving from Post 5 in the first race of the evening, Byron opted for a front-end trip with Jayport Express and the Yentls Image son delivered a gritty effort to turn back a challenge from favourite At A Boy Eric and earn his fourth win of the season. Jayport Express tripped the teletimer at 2:01.3 in the one and three-quarter length triumph over Earl Vic Dol and Turn That Down. At A boy Eric did not survive the trip up the outside and settled for fourth.
The win secured Jayport Express an invitation to the Oct. 26 Semifinal at Flamboro Downs and boosted the trotter’s 2003 earnings to $120,569 for owner Thomas Porchak of Woodstock. Like Mr Garjangles, Jayport Express started the season in the Gold Series and moved into the Grassroots for the Sept. 7 skirmish at Clinton Raceway.
Also suffering limited success against the Gold colts in his first few starts, Ethen Seelster firmly established himself as a threat in the Grassroots post season with a second straight victory. Trained by last year’s top OSS conditioner Bob McIntosh and driven by the leading reinsman Don McElroy, the Mr Lavec son sailed to a nine length, 2:01.3 victory over Short Game and Crampton Express.
La Salle resident McIntosh shares ownership on last season’s Super Final champion with breeder Dave Boyle of Bowmanville and CSX Stables of Liberty Center, OH.
Semi Spot also scored a second Grassroots victory in the fog covered tenth race and faces a choice heading into the post season. The King Conch son sits in a three-way tie for ninth spot in the Grassroots standings and in third in the Gold Series point race for a berth in the $300,000 Super Final on Nov. 8.
Trainer Kirby MacDonald and owners Kathlyn MacDonald of Paris, Walter Bauer of Brantford and Gary Siliphant of Simcoe will have until next Thursday to decide the direction they wish to send Semi Spot for his final provincial appearances.
Armbro Acme and Incredible FX completed the top three in Race 10, clocked in 2:03.4.
The other Grassroots division went to Revington, who squeaked into the Grassroots season with 83 points from one win, one second and one fourth in three starts. The Yentls Image son delivered a convincing six length victory over Kool Balance and Parkhill Zzar, stopping the clock in a creditable 2:01.4. Trainer Paul Walker and Julie Walker of Owen Sound own Revington.
The top 16 three-year-old trotting colts now head to Flamboro Downs on Oct. 26 for a pair of Semifinals, with the top four finishers from each Semifinal earning the right to compete in the Nov. 2 Grassroots Championship.
Georgian Downs wraps up its 2003 Ontario Sires Stakes schedule on Saturday, Oct. 18 with the last Grassroots event for the fast three-year-old pacing fillies.