DRESDEN, ON — Ross Battin boosted his chances of scoring an unprecedented seventh Lampman Cup victory as the leading driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes program with a trio of victories in Grassroots action at Dresden Raceway on Monday.

The Monkton resident kicked off his successful afternoon with an impressive come from behind score with The Orient Express in the first two-year-old trotting colt Grassroots division. Leaving from Post 7 the pair floated off the starting gate into fifth, then followed Sno N Again up the outside through the middle stages of the mile. As the colts turned for home only a nose separated Sno N Again and The Orient Express, but the anticipated stretch battle never materialised as The Orient Express simply pulled away to a two length victory in 2:03.4.

Sno N Again stayed game for second, while The Prowler saved ground on the rail to earn the third-place share of the $16,225 Ontario Sires Stakes purse.

Peter Clements trains The Orient Express for breeder Elwood Irwin of Guelph and Monday’s victory marked the Royal Ballad son’s second win in three Grassroots starts, giving him a total of 105 points in the race for a berth in the Oct. 8 Grassroots Semifinal.

Battin teamed up with Clements for a second victory in Race 11, piloting Potential Renegade to his third Grassroots triumph in 2:04.1. The CR Renegade son took command of the race from Post 2 and fought off a challenge from I’m Classy for the last quarter before pulling away to the two and a quarter length victory. I’m Classy picked up the second-place share, fending off Zorgwijk Graduate through the final strides.

Dobbinton resident Clements bred Potential Renegade and shares ownership on the gelding with his daughter Amy Clements. The young trotter is flawless through four starts and sits alone atop the Grassroots standings with a perfect record of 150 points.

Battin completed the driving hat trick with a victory aboard trainer Mark Steacy’s Aforgottendynasty in Race 8. The Mr Lavec son, owned by breeder Paul Lindsey of Fergus, impressed Dresden fans by powering to the front from Post 6 and laying down fractions of :30.3, 1:03 and 1:34.2 on his way to the 2:06 victory over Pacific Rambler and Virtually Anywhere.

The win was the colt’s first after recording a fourth and a third in his earlier Grassroots appearances.

Starsel picked up his second straight victory with a seemingly effortless effort in the last Grassroots division. The Angus Hall son did all the work on the front end and cruised under the wire two and a quarter lengths ahead of two-time Grassroots winner Mozart and six lengths up on one-time winner Duke Of Connaught.

Ross Henry, a four time winner of the leading trainer award in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, trains Starsel for his partners in the Henry Stable of Arthur and Alan Bodin of Rockwood. Henry’s son Wayne engineered the victory for the colt, who started his provincial career with a fourth-place finish in the season opening Gold Series Eliminations at Georgian Downs.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Laurent in 2:07.1 and Sovereign Way in 2:05.3.

The two-year-old trotting colts resume their Grassroots rivalry on Aug. 15 at Grand River Raceway, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Dresden Raceway on Labour Day, Monday. Sept. 5, with Grassroots action for the freshman trotting fillies.

For complete Grassroots results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rdresmo.html