FRASERVILLE, ON — Basso Hanover proved that he was worth his purchase price when he scorched around the Kawartha Downs oval on Thursday evening to capture the first of five Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing colts.
A $72,000 US acquisition from last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, Basso Hanover cruised around the Kawartha Downs five-eighths in a smart 1:56.4. Leaving from Post 8 driver Tony Kerwood hustled Basso Hanover off the starting gate and into fourth spot on the rail, where they sat through opening fractions of :28.2 and :57. Heading for the 1:26.2 three-quarters Kerwood sent the colt to the front and the pair accelerated away from the field to the three and one-half length victory.
Hussy’s Ace claimed the runner-up share of the $21,295 Grassroots purse and Themachmanprophecy, owned by David Snowden of Bowmanville, paced under the wire two more lengths back in third.
John Kopas trains Basso Hanover for Glengate Farms of Campellville and Clay Harland Horner of Toronto. The son of Camluck and Barbys Makentrax is a half-brother to $461,648 winner Barnett Hanover and $246,770 winner Shotgun Scott.
James Ritchie shipped a pair of colts to Kawartha Downs from his Grand Valley farm and took home a pair of Grassroots trophies for his efforts. In Race 3 the trainer-driver piloted Sergei Seelster to a three-quarter length victory over Deuces And Jacks and Twin B Legacy, halting the teletimer at 1:58.3.
Ritchie shares ownership on Sergei Seelster with Paul Ritchie of Orangeville. A $9,000 purchase out of the Forest City Yearling Sale, the Rustler Hanover colt returned the Ritchie’s investment, plus interest, with Thursday’s victory.
Three races later Ritchie was back in front of the Kawartha Downs track photographer with You Gotta See This, who went gate-to-wire in 1:58.3. Like his stablemate Sergei Seelster, the Northern Luck son was a winner in qualifying action at Georgian Downs in preparation for Thursday’s contest. Paul Ritchie owns the colt, who was a $10,000 yearling purchase.
Patch Seelster and Luster Leader rounded out the top three in Race 6.
The other two Grassroots divisions went to Dr Sharkey and Sauble Ron. Dr Sharkey led the field through all stations in Race 4, hitting the wire three-quarters of a length on top in 1:59.2. Hoofnhome, owned by Brett Riley of Roseneath, and Pictonian Strapper, owned by Brian Evans and Donna Van Meer of Bowmanville, picked up the second and third-place honours.
Daryl Roberts trains Dr Sharkey for owner and breeder Donald Douglas of Ingersoll. Thursday’s outing was the Western Maverick son’s second lifetime start. He posted a third-place finish in a maiden event at Flamboro Downs on June 15.
Sauble Ron also used front end tactics to earn his 1:57.2 victory over Tune Me Out and Three Cents in Race 7. The Fit For Life son is trained by Larry Hall for his Sauble Hill Farms of Tara.
The two-year-old pacing colts will make their second stop on the Grassroots circuit Friday, July 7 at Quinte Exhibition Raceway, while Kawartha Downs welcomes the two-year-old trotting colts for their first Gold Series event next Thursday, June 29.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rkdfth.html