FRASERVILLE, ON — Kawartha Downs will serve as the final stop on the three-year-old trotting colt Grassroots tour this Thursday as 38 contenders try and cement their spot in the lucrative post season.

Trainer John Bax will harness two entries in Thursday’s contest — one colt who has already secured a berth in the Sept. 29 Semifinal and one who needs a top finish at his local oval to extend his season.

“It’s nice to be able to race here at home,” says the Peterborough resident. “I think it’s more of an advantage that I only have to drive 10 minutes down the road instead of two or three hours.”

Currently ranked fourth in the division standings, Random Attack will attempt to pad his point total from Post 3 in Thursday’s second race. The Mr Lavec son has been a steady performer all season, posting two wins, one second and a fifth in four Grassroots starts.

“He’s a big horse, but he’s been able to get around the small tracks pretty well,” notes Bax, who shares ownership on Random Attack with Goin To The Show Stable of Peterborough and Lewis Palmer of Oshawa. “We’re happy with the way he’s racing. He’s right up in the top five.”

The partners were not always so pleased with the gelding’s efforts. Raced just five times at two, it took Random Attack three tries to get qualified this spring and he had to requalify after his first two starts. However, once the young trotter found his groove he has been remarkably consistent, collecting cheques in all but one of his last 11 starts.

“He’s kind of improving with time,” says Bax. “I think he’ll likely make a good racehorse, he’s sensible and sound.”

�Mr. OSS’ Dave Wall will make the trip to Kawartha Downs to pilot Random Attack on Thursday, matching wits against division leader I’m Classy and driver Gordon Rayner, who will attempt to maintain their flawless Grassroots record from Post 8.

Bax’s second contender in Thursday’s $98,115 contest is Paco In The Sky, who currently sits twenty-sixth in the division standings.

“He’d have to win and then get awful lucky to make the Semifinal,” says Bax, who trains the gelding for Kentuckiana Racing Stable of Lexington, KY. “So it’s just a race for him.”

The Yankee Paco son and driver Brad Rae will start from Post 4 in the seventh race on Thursday. The gelding heads into the contest off a stretch of overnights at Mohawk Racetrack.

“He has a hard time on the smaller track, so I try to keep him off them,” explains Bax. “Fortunately they have been writing classes for Sires Stakes colts at Mohawk and he’s been trotting around 1:57 in Toronto when he behaves.”

While he did not struggle as much as his stablemate at the start of the season, Paco In The Sky has a few more mistakes on his card, including one in Grassroots action at Grand River Raceway on July 7, which may prove to be the difference between participating in the post season and taking an early retirement from the provincial scene. In his only other Grassroots appearance, Paco In The Sky was a commanding nine length victor at Windsor Raceway on June 11.

Among the colts that Paco In The Sky and Rae face on Thursday are one that currently sits among the top 16 point earners and three hovering within striking distance.

Post time at Kawartha Downs on Thursday evening is 7 pm and the three-year-old trotting colts will entertain fans in Races 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7. After Thursday’s battle the top 16 point earners will make their way to Flamboro Downs for a pair of $30,000 Semifinals on Sept. 29, with the top four finishers from each Semifinal advancing to the Oct. 7 $100,000 Grassroots Championship.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/ekdfth.html