BELLEVILLE, ON — Shady Suspect cemented his hold on the top spot in the two-year-old trotting colt Grassroots division with his third straight victory on Friday night at Quinte Raceway.
The Incredible Abe son and driver Ross Battin delivered an impressive come-from-behind effort to capture the second of seven Grassroots divisions in 2:08.4, finishing a length in front of Windsong Aston and a length and a quarter in front of pacesetter Odee Ozar.
Dobbinton resident Peter Clements trains Shady Suspect for his children Curtis and Amy Clements of Dobbinton and Chad Clements of Chesley. The trio have banked a total of $31,054 through the colt’s three Grassroots starts this season.
Battin also captured the first Grassroots division, landing Loose Change Louie in the winner’s circle for the first time this season. The veteran driver stalked the pace from third through most of the mile and then kicked Loose Change Louie into gear heading for the three-quarters. The San Pellegrino son responded with a solid burst of speed that propelled him by pacesetter Schemin N Dreamin and held off favourite Ocean Lavec.
Michael Robblee of Woodstock trains Loose Change Louie for his partners Brent Belore of Embro, Ronald Thomson of Embro and George Cuthbert of Ingersoll. Driver Trevor Henry also posted two Grassroots victories on the Friday evening program, driving a pair of colts trained by his father Ross to the fastest miles of the night.
Yall Just Jealous logged the sharpest mile of the seven divisions, halting the clock at 2:06 off a front-end performance that saw him more than 20 lengths ahead at one point in the mile. At the wire the Angus Hall son was 10 lengths up on Crown Meadow and two more in front of Nobananas.
The Henry Stable of Arthur owns Yall Just Jealous, who started his season in the Gold Series and was the runner-up to Gold Elimination winner Coventry in a July 19 Flamboro Breeders event.
Henry also visited the Quinte winner’s circle with TJs Incredible Lad, who maintained his second-place position in the standings with a 2:06.3 triumph over King Anthony and Flight Dream in Race 5. Through three Grassroots starts the Incredible Abe son boasts two wins and one third for 112 points. Henry, who makes his home in Arthur, shares ownership on the talented colt with fellow breeder James Laverty of Sauble Beach.
Earl Of Openwood scored a front-end victory in the eighth race that thwarted heavy favourite Savannah Sirius. The Earl son and driver Dave Boughton shot directly to the front from Post 2, laid down fractions of :32.1, 1:04.4 and 1:36.2, and then shifted into overdrive to hold off a late drive from Savannah Sirius and claim the 2:07 victory. Repete Plumsted finished four lengths back in third.
Trained by Frank Szasz for Ena Szasz of Bolton, Earl Of Openwood also jumped up the division standings with the win, his second in Grassroots competition.
The other divisions went to Sporty Hope in 2:12.3 and Trudel, who was bumped up from second to first after suffering interference at the start caused by first-place finisher Canaco Norvege.
The two-year-old trotting colts head to Sudbury Downs for their fourth Grassroots start on Sept. 13. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Quinte Raceway for the final time this season on Monday, Sept. 1 when the two-year-old pacing fillies bring their exciting Grassroots wild card to Belleville.