ELORA, ON — The summer of speed continued at Grand River Raceway on Friday evening as seven of nine three-year-old trotting colt Grassroots divisions were clocked faster than the 2:01 track record set by Eddie K O in 2004.

When the dust had settled, Indiana Hall had carved his name into the Elora oval’s record books alongside the sophomore trotting colt category with an impressive 1:58.4 victory in the tenth race.

The Striking Sahbra son and driver Tony Kerwood shot straight to the front from Post 3 and laid down fractions of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:28.4 before pulling away to the three and a half length score over Joey The Jet JT and Lord Valentine.

Rockwood resident Rob Fellows trains Indiana Hall for S S G Stables of North Boston, NY. The win was the gelding’s third in six starts and his second in Grassroots action this season, good enough for third place in the division point race at the halfway point in the season.

Grand River fans knew they were in for an evening of high speed performances as soon as the first race got under way. Armbro Decent and trainer-driver George Zirnis rocketed off the gate to a :29.3 opening quarter and maintained their position on the front end through a :59.4 half, 1:30 three-quarters and 2:00.1 victory.

Elmira resident Zirnis trains Armbro Decent for his partner Tom Cousineau of Elmira. Another son of Striking Sahbra, Armbro Decent now has three wins under his belt through nine starts and vaulted into the Top 16 point earners with his first Grassroots victory.

Unleashed Fury closed hard to finish one-quarter length behind Armbro Decent, while Lets Get Er Done, owned by Deborah White of Rockwood and Paul Cote of Burlington, finished a half length back in third.

Hettie’s Hope also edged into the Top 16 with his first win in the provincial program. With Jim McClure in the race bike the Berndt Hanover son went gate-to-wire in 2:01 for trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph and owners Terry Taylor of Fergus and Robert Rombough of Mississauga. Hettie’s Hope hit the wire three-quarters of a length up on Random Attack and six lengths ahead of Armbro Delta.

In the third division Heaven And Hall, in rein to Robert Shepherd, toured the Grand River half-mile in 2:00 to log his third straight Grassroots victory and maintain his position atop the division standings. Susanne Kerwood trains the Angus Hall son, who is now four for six this season, for Hyatt Holdings Inc. and Capital Corp. of Milton.

Northern Gaylord and Keystone Monarch rounded out the top three behind the division leader.

Heaven And Hall shares top spot in the point race with I’m Classy, who also scored his third straight Grassroots victory on Friday evening. The Eager Seelster son, bred and owned by Lorna Chapple of Harley, hit the wire four and three-quarter lengths ahead of Sno N Again and King Covenant and stopped the teletimer at 1:59.2. Regular reinsman Gordon Rayner was in the race bike for trainer Wayne Langille.

Wayne Henry scored a sharp 1:59.3 victory with Chosen Voyageur in the fourth division, hitting the wire one and a half lengths ahead of Broadway Seelster and six lengths up on favourite The Orient Express, owned by Elwood Irwin of Guelph.

Arthur resident Henry trains and drives Chosen Voyageur for his partners in the Henry Stable and Slabtown Farm of Croton. The win was the Balanced Image son’s first of the season, which saw him start off in the Gold Series before dropping back to the Grassroots in June.

In the last Grassroots division Avenger Seelster turned his Ontario Sires Stakes debut into a trip to the winner’s circle with a 2:00.4 effort. Stephen Bossence of London trains Avenger Seelster for his partners Doug Woodhouse of Kitchener, Ian Fromowitz of Richmond Hill and Derek Reid of Etobicoke.

Dan Clements piloted the Angus Hall son to the five and one-quarter length win over Pacific Rambler and Su Lavec.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Incredible Anthony in 1:59.4 and Ja El Coastalimage in 2:02.3. The three-year-old trotting colts return to Grassroots action on Aug. 19 at Woodstock Raceway.

Speed and excitement will be on the menu at Grand River Raceway again this Monday, July 10 as world and track record holder Luck Of Michelle and her two-year-old pacing filly peers return to the Elora oval for their $130,000 Gold Final.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgrvrfr.html