CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Ontario’s high speed three-year-old pacing colts delivered all the expected thrills at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening, and local colt Modern Era proved he belongs among the province’s best with a runner-up finish in the fastest mile of the six $24,000 Grassroots divisions.
Starting from Post 4 in the tenth race, driver Simon Allard hustled Modern Era off the gate and then settled the first time Ontario Sires Stakes starter onto the rail behind heavy favourite Grin Big. While Grin Big rocketed through fractions of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:24.3, Allard kept Modern Era tucked in the pocket and the gelding stayed game to the end, finishing three and a half lengths back of Grin Big in the 1:52 mile. Southview Anand mounted a challenge at the three-quarter marker, but faded through the final turn and had to settle for third.
Robert Robinson trains Modern Era for Brian Cassell of Gloucester and Mike Romanelli of Boisbriand, QC, and fans can expect to see him make a second Grassroots start on July 17 at Hanover Raceway.
Winner Grin Big is owned by Joseph Martinelli of Staten Island, NY and trained by Tony O’Sullivan. Leading reinsman Jody Jamieson engineered the Grinfromeartoear son’s sixth victory.
Grin Big’s winner’s circle photo was one of three Jamieson appeared in on Sunday evening, capping off a successful weekend in the Ontario Sires Stakes program for the Cambridge resident. In addition to Sunday’s victories, Jamieson also captured a trio of Grassroots races at Flamboro Downs on Saturday afternoon.
Jamieson kicked off his driving hat trick in the second $24,000 division, steering Rock Me Amastreos to a front end victory in 1:52.3. Sent off as the fan favourite, the Murray Brethour trainee cruised home a two length winner over Mambo Italiano and Hangon Cowboy.
David Snowden of Bowmanville bred and owns Rock Me Amastreos, a son of Astreos, who improved his record to two wins and two thirds in seven starts with the win, boosting his sophomore earnings to $25,430.
Jamieson’s third victory came in the final Grassroots division with another Tony O’Sullivan trainee, Dalhousie Dave. The pair had to overcome some early interference, but once they took command of the race, Jamieson had no need to look back and Dalhousie Dave sailed home to a 1:53.4 victory.
After leading through the early stages of the race, This Is Wyatt stuck close to Dalhousie Dave and picked up second-place honours, with Stormy Art four and three-quarter lengths back in third.
O’Sullivan trains Dalhousie Dave for brothers John and Jim Fielding of Toronto. Unraced as a two-year-old, the gelding boasts a flawless record through four starts this season.
In addition to his runner-up showing with Modern Era, driver Simon Allard also picked up a pair of wins in Sunday’s Grassroots skirmishes. The Hamilton resident eked out a half length victory in the first division with Camluck son Lyons Frank for trainer Shawn Robinson and owner Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford.
The colts started the evening off on an exciting note as there was a cavalry charge down the stretch and Lyons Frank, runner-up Milliondollar Art and third-place finisher Luckcamotion were separated by less than a length at the wire, halting the teletimer at 1:54.1.
Allard’s second win was also the result of a hair raising finish, as Mister Russ held off a charging What The Sheik to earn his first win of the season. The Rustler Hanover gelding hit the wire half a length ahead of his rival in 1:53. Cool And Collected picked up the third-place finisher’s share.
Joe Pereira trains Mister Russ for The Merks Stable of New York, NY.
The other Grassroots division featured another thrilling finish as Medoland Big Cam got a neck in front of Good Bad Lucky and Scotian Laddie at the wire. Gord Brown drove the Million Dollar Cam son to the 1:54.1 triumph for trainer Michael Medors and owners Tamara Hoovler of Pataskala, OH, Slaughter Racing Stable LLC, of Prospect, KY, Jerry Somers of Pickerington, OH and John Rhoads, Jr. of Circleville, OH.
The talented three-year-old pacing colts will now take their nail biting finishes and high speed battles to Hanover Raceway on July 17 for their second Grassroots event. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, July 11 with the third Grassroots event of the season for the three-year-old trotting colts.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0620ridcfn.dat.