ELORA, ON — As the two-year-old pacing colts start the second half of their Grassroots season at Grand River Raceway on Monday, trainer Gregg McNair is hoping that the four youngsters hailing from his barn are still working toward their peak performance level.

“They’re all about the same. They all could step up and go good trips in there,” says the Guelph resident of Dougs Fame, Fact Of Fame, Avnis Apache and Chucks Secret. “These four are still going ahead. At this time of year if they are going the other way they’ve got to be shut down, but these are still showing some pace.”

Dougs Fame will lead the parade of starters from the McNair barn on Monday, looking to boost his Grassroots total from Post 1 in the third race. The son of Apaches Fame and Armbro Vertical has recorded one win, one second and one fourth in Grassroots competition for a total of 83 points and fourth-place in the division standings.

McNair bred the brother to $370,519 winner Claires Apache, and shares ownership on the colt with Ian Fleming of Londesborough. He says the colt has better manners than his Gold Elimination winning sister, but has yet to demonstrate the same level of ability.

“I liked him early on. He seemed like he’d be a better horse than he is,” reflects McNair. “He raced good last week. He drew a little better his last start, I guess that helped him.”

Dougs Fame heads into Monday’s contest off a 1:54.1 victory in the Sept. 8 Grassroots competition at Hiawatha Horse Park. The fastest of eight Grassroots divisions contested at Hiawatha, the win was the colt’s first since his July 8 debut and came on the heels of three off the board finishes from outside posts.

McNair was also pleased with the way Fact Of Fame raced at Hiawatha. Another son of Apaches Fame, the gelding came up the outside and stayed game through a :56.3 last half to finish fourth.

“He raced a good trip,” says McNair, who conditions Fact Of Fame for breeder Robert Chapple of Chatham. “They went too big a half for him that’s all.

“He’s coming along. He has a little trouble in the turns, but that’s getting better. He’s a fast colt if we can ever get him coming the right way,” adds the horseman.

Fact Of Fame will make his fourth lifetime start, and his third in Grassroots action, from Post 2 in the fourth race at Grand River on Monday.

Avnis Apache, the third son of Apaches Fame in McNair’s arsenal, will also start from Post 2 in Race 8. Another late bloomer, Avnis Apache made his racing debut at Hanover Raceway on Aug. 22, where he finished second, and then stepped up to the Grassroots level for the Hiawatha Horse Park event. Fifth in the second fastest division of the evening, the colt impressed McNair and owner Ervin Abdulov of London.

“He qualified a little late and had some health problems there, but he’s coming along good,” says the trainer. “He went a good trip there the other night.”

The final member of McNair’s two-year-old pacing colt team, and the only colt not sired by Apaches Fame, Chucks Secret will start from Post 5 in Race 10. Through six starts the son of Fit For Life has recorded one win, two seconds and one third. With both seconds and one fourth-place finish coming in Grassroots action, Chucks Secret currently sits in eleventh spot in the division standings with 58 points.

“He trained good all winter that colt, and he’s raced pretty good. He’s a nice handy horse,” says McNair, who handles training on Chucks Secret for colleague Jay Cochlin of Dundas.

Post time for this Monday’s Grassroots laden program is 7:30 pm. The two-year-old pacing colts will entertain Grand River Raceway fans in Races 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

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