DUNDAS, ON — Heading into their second last Grassroots event on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Flamboro Downs, the pressure is on the province’s two-year-old pacing colts to bolster their point tallies and secure a berth in the lucrative post season.

Among the colts hovering within striking distance of the top 16 are a pair trained by Ancaster resident Jim Wellwood. Making just their second start in the Grassroots program, Grin And Tonic and Presidential Sam will be trying to extend their freshman season in the first two $15,010 divisions, with Grin And Tonic leading off from Post 6 in Race 2.

“Grin And Tonic trained like a good colt all winter, he didn’t know he was small,” says Wellwood of the diminutive Grinfromeartoear son. “I call him a good, big, little horse. He’s been second in his last two starts.”

Grin And Tonic made his racing debut at Grand River Raceway on July 7, finishing seventh in a 2:00 mile, then delivered an impressive effort in the July 18 Grassroots event at Georgian Downs to finish third in a 1:57.3 clocking. Wellwood and owners 1187422 Ontario Inc. of Gloucester decided to give the novice pacer a shot at the Battle Of Waterloo at Grand River Raceway and Grin And Tonic finished fifth in his elimination and second in the Aug. 7 consolation.

Returning to Georgian Downs on Aug. 22, Grin And Tonic delivered another impressive effort, cutting all the fractions in a 1:56 mile before being collared in the stretch.

Stablemate Presidential Sam also heads into Thursday’s contest off a pair of solid results, finishing third on Aug. 4 and second on Aug. 24 over the Flamboro Downs half-mile. In his only other starts the Presidential Ball son was sixth in a division of the Dream Maker Series at Mohawk Racetrack on July 24 and a winner in the July 18 Georgian Downs Grassroots event, where he and driver Paul MacDonell circled the five-eighths mile oval in a smart 1:56.4.

“Paul MacDonell drove him, and won with him, at Georgian Downs and he really liked him,” recalls Wellwood, who shares ownership on the colt with 1187422 Ontario Inc. “He said he is as fast for a piece as any horse he’s ever sat behind.”

Currently sitting in an eleven-way tie for the sixteenth spot in the Grassroots Semifinal, Presidential Sam will be looking to accumulate a few more points from Post 4 in the third race on Thursday. Although Garrett Whelan landed on top early with the colt in his last start, Wellwood does not expect to see the driver employ the same strategy on Thursday.

“The only mistake he made was in a schooler in June. Steve Condren was driving him and he tried to leave a little bit with him,” says Wellwood. “Well, this colt wants to go from first gear to fifth gear immediately and he made a break leaving. Since then we’ve had to be a little careful with him.”

Grin And Tonic and Presidential Sam will shift Flamboro Downs’ program into high gear in Races 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11 on Thursday. Post time at the Dundas oval is 4 pm.

For complete results please go to:

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