FRASERVILLE, ON — Driver Mike Saftic piloted a pair of two-year-old pacing colts to Grassroots victory at Kawartha Downs on Saturday evening including locally owned Get Around Town.

Starting from the trailing Post 9 in the fourth $24,000 Grassroots division, Saftic and Get Around Town landed fourth in the early going, but were quickly out and gunning for the lead. Through a :57 half and 1:26.2 three-quarters, the pair maintained a steady one and one-half length margin on the field, which they opened up to three and one-quarters by the 1:55.3 finish. One Bad Night and Brocks Fortune tailed the favourite across the wire into second and third.

James Walker of Port Perry shares ownership of Get Around Town with trainer Garth Gordon of Guelph, Leonard Coulson of Elora and Sugar Rush Stable of Georgetown. The Jeremes Jet son was also a winner in the Grassroots season opener at Flamboro Downs on July 4. A $17,000 purchase out of last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale, the gelding is a full-brother to sophomore Grassroots winner Memumsnotnice ($129,560).

Saftic also engineered a three and one-quarter length victory for Glammit in the third race. After drafting along behind favourite Bobby Hill through fractions of :27.2, :57.1 and 1:24.4, Saftic fired Glammit out in the stretch and the colt sprinted away to the 1:54.1 victory. Pointsman also closed well to be second, while Bobby Hill finished nine lengths back in third.

Larry Micallef conditions Glammit for owner and breeder Dawn Lupul of Rockwood. The Rambaran son started his career at the Gold Series, winning his June 29 elimination but getting placed back to third for causing interference, and finishing seventh in the July 6 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack.

Driver Jean Rene Plante also picked up two Grassroots trophies at Kawartha on Saturday. The reinsman made his first appearance in the winner’s circle with Validus Deo, going gate-to-wire from Post 3 in 1:55.2. Sly Ruler and Panocchio rounded out the top three.

Plante engineered the victory for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Cheap Speed Stable of Steger, IL and Alan Alber of Thornhill, ON. The Lis Mara colt, a $50,000 acquisition from the Harrisburg Yearling Sale, is the first foal from $186,006 winner Madam Countess.

One race later Plante was back on top with another Alagna trainee, Moon Over Mara, who controlled the pace from start to finish, halting the Kawartha teletimer at 1:55.2. Makers Mach finished one and three-quarter lengths back in second and Mystic Deuce was one more length to the rear in third.

Alagna conditions Moon Over Mara for John Carver of Bettendorf, IA, who also bred the son of Lis Mara and Peaches N KY. Both Moon Over Mara and his stablemate Validus Deo started their provincial careers in the Gold Series, failing to advance out of their June 29 Gold Eliminations.

Local reinsman Gord Brown eked out a nose victory with Mark Steacy trainee D Gs Stamkos in the fifth race. The Blissfull Hall son led from the three-quarters and managed to hang on for the 1:57 win over favourite Dull Roar. Can He Go completed the top three.

Brighton resident Brown piloted D Gs Stamkos to the win for owners Landmark V Racing Stable of Kingston, Bannon Stables of Napanee and Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc. of Hudson, QC. A $40,000 yearling purchase from the 2011 Forest City Yearling Sale, the son of prolific producer Bolero Ultima ($299,620) was making his first appearance in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.

The other Grassroots trophies went home with Classic Gent in 1:56.1; Rude Boy in 1:57.1; State Of Euphoria in 1:55.2; and Santanna One in 1:54.3.

Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing colts and geldings will make their third Grassroots start at Mohawk Racetrack on August 13, while Kawartha Downs fans get ready to welcome the exciting three-year-old pacing fillies for Gold Elimination action on August 2.

For complete results please go to Kawartha Downs Results — July 21, 2012