ELORA, ON — Drivers Paul MacDonell, Doug McNair and Jason Brewer all picked up a pair of Grassroots victories at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening.
Guelph resident MacDonell kicked off his driving double with a confident steer behind fan favourite Shaws Creek Buff in the second three-year-old pacing colt split. The pair took control of the race before the half and sailed home four and one-quarter length winners in 1:54.3. Tomitta Bayama and Iwilldowhatido rounded out the top three.
MacDonell engineered the win, the gelding’s first in Ontario Sires Stakes action, for trainer Brian Lee and owners Lockewood Stables and Frank Brundle of Orangeville. Through 11 sophomore starts the son of Mach Three now boasts a record of four wins, one second and three thirds for earnings of $54,540.
In the evening’s tenth race, MacDonell picked up a second Grassroots win with his own colt Rebel Jet. Starting from Post 1, MacDonell followed co-favourite The Riddler through fractions of :28.1, :57.1 and 1:25.3 before sliding out in the stretch and urging Rebel Jet on to a neck victory in 1:54.3. The Riddler settled for second, holding off a charging Mariner Seelster.
MacDonell shares ownership of Rebel Jet with Irwin Stables Inc. of Cobourg, and has guided the Jeremes Jet gelding to two wins, four seconds and two thirds in 12 starts this season. Monday’s outing was Rebel Jet’s first in the Ontario Sires Stakes program this season.
Guelph resident Doug McNair scored his first Grassroots victory of the evening in the sixth race, guiding Noble Andrew to a neck victory over The Unsub in 1:56. Red Carpet Dude, owned by Glenview Livestock of Wallenstein and Bill Manes of Rockwood, finished two and one-half lengths back in third.
Trainer Chris Christoforou of Campbellville shares ownership of Noble Andrew with Banjo Farms of Toronto, and the partners celebrated the Mach Three son’s first win on Monday. The colt finished fifth in his only other Grassroots start this season.
Three races later McNair made his return to the Grand River winner’s circle with Machman, another Christoforou trainee, who went gate-to-wire in a sizzling 1:53.4. Favourite Espen De Vie finished two lengths back in second and OK Ebury was six and one-half lengths to the rear in third.
Also owned by trainer Christoforou and Banjo Farms, Machman boasts a record of two wins, one second and two thirds through seven starts and boosted his earnings to $32,215 with Monday’s triumph. The Mach Three gelding sits slightly ahead of his stablemate in the Grassroots standings, having finished fourth in his division of the June 10 season opener at Clinton Raceway.
Puslinch resident Brewer employed similar tactics in the eighth race with Daniel Semalu, controlling the pace for most of the mile before cruising home seven and one-half length winners in 1:55.4. Machal Jordon earned the second-place share of the $24,000 purse and Twin B Wrangler, owned by trainer Travis Umphrey of Guelph, Mac Nichol of Burlington and Derek Wilson of Okotoks, AB, completed the triactor.
The win was the second straight for Modern Art son Daniel Semalu, who tried his hand at the Gold Series level before joining the Grassroots ranks on Monday. Rene Dion conditions Daniel Semalu for owner-breeders Semalu Inc. of Laval, QC.
Brewer picked up his second win in the last division, landing Tye Seelster his first Grassroots trophy of the season with a sharp 1:53.4 score. Favourite Franceschetti finished one length back in second and Carsons Cracker, owned by David Carson of Listowel, was third.
Edward Hayter trains Tye Seelster for his father Victor Hayter of Stratford. Through 11 sophomore starts the Camluck colt has four wins and two seconds for earnings of $74,240.
Fiesty Flyer picked up his third straight Grassroots victory in the first division on Monday, securing sole spot at the top of the point standings with a perfect 150. The Camluck son and driver Jonathan Drury cruised to a 1:55.1 victory over Coach Cal and Curious Phoenix.
Casie Coleman trains Fiesty Flyer for owner-breeder Robert Hamather of Exeter. Through seven starts the gelding has five wins, one second and one third for earnings of $56,150.
The other Grassroots trophies went home with Huxley in 1:54.2 and Lyons Josephjnr in 1:55.
The three-year-old pacing colts make the fourth stop on their Grassroots calendar at Georgian Downs on August 18, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues to build at Grand River Raceway with the arrival of the three-year-old pacing fillies this Friday, July 27. The fillies will compete for a total of $168,000 in seven Grassroots divisions, with the evening’s first race getting under way at 7:05 pm.
For complete results please go to Grand River Raceway Results — July 23, 2012