CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — When the top 20 horses from each freshman Grassroots division gathered at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday night, fans got to see just how deep the talent pool is in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.
Only one favourite was able to deliver in the eight $30,000 Grassroots Semifinals, and two-year-old pacing colt Huxley undoubtedly benefited from the hot hands of Moffat resident Jody Jamieson, who captured four Grassroots events and two overnight races on the card.
Starting from Post 4 in the last Semifinal of the evening, Jamieson dropped Huxley onto the rail behind early pacesetter Speed Addiction, who led the field to a :13.2 eighth and a :28 quarter. Jamieson then sent Huxley after the lead, where the colt briefly resided before being challenged by Red Carpet Dude heading by the :57.4 half.
Red Carpet Dude’s tenure on the front end was also brief as he was quickly attacked by Rocky Regal, who clocked the 1:25.3 three-quarters. Just one-quarter of a mile after they had enjoyed a clear view from the front, Huxley and Jamieson were shuffled back to fourth and seemingly hemmed in by a wall of colts marching up the outside. As True To Mach grabbed the lead heading past the 1:40 seven-eighths, Jamieson carved out some racing room for Huxley and the Modern Art son powered down the stretch to a three-quarter length victory in 1:55.
IwilldowhatIdo also closed smartly over a Mohawk oval rated one second slower than normal to claim second-place honours, with True To Mach battling into third. Rocky Regal and Red Carpet Dude rounded out the top five, all of whom will return to Mohawk for the $100,000 Grassroots Final on Oct. 1. R Gauwitz Hanover, undefeated by his peers in five Grassroots starts, was done in by his outside post and finished sixth.
David Menary conditions Huxley for Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, PA and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, PA. Through nine starts the talented gelding has tallied seven wins and two seconds for earnings of $77,925.
Guelph resident Doug McNair piloted Secretsoftheknight to victory in the other pacing colt Semifinal. The pair rocketed around on the front end to a personal best 1:53.3, hitting the wire one and one-half lengths ahead of Life Signature and fan favourite In Commando. Who Doesnt and Retail also advanced out of the second Semifinal.
Gregg McNair of Guelph trains Secretsoftheknight for Tony Lawrence of Hanover, Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, John Newell of Waterloo and Graham Hopkins of Chesley. The win was the second lifetime for the Mach Three son, who was also second three times in Grassroots action this summer.
Jamieson and his father, trainer Carl Jamieson of Princeton, swept the two-year-old trotting colt Semifinals, giving the reinsman the enviable choice of two winners for next week’s Championship.
In the first $30,000 split Jamieson and Tymal Oh So Nice were able to overcome the outside Post 10 to record a one length victory in a personal best 1:58.4. The pair bested Ballykeel Ulysses, Mutinyonthebounty, favourite Northern Victory and Northern Kingdom.
The senior Jamieson shares ownership of Tymal Oh So Nice with Thomas Kyron of Toronto, Douglas Good of Chatham and Brian Paquet of Quebec, QC. In six starts the son of Striking Sahbra now has three wins, one second and one third for earnings of $46,300.
In spite of starting from a post closer to the rail, Jody Jamieson used similar tactics to land Ill Be There in the winner’s circle following the second trotting colt Semifinal. The pair sat third through much of the mile and stepped out in the stretch to reel in the leaders. Ill Be There fought hard to the wire to fend off challenger Mikey Hanover and earn the 1:58.3 victory. Oaklea Umpire was just one-half length back in third, with House Money and San Pietro three and six lengths further back in fourth and fifth.
Fan favourite Grandin Road finished tenth, and the top two point earners from the regular season, Strike The Cheque and Southwind Nazareth also failed to advance past the Semifinal round, finishing eighth and sixth respectively.
Kadabra son Ill Be There tried his hand briefly in the Gold Series before returning to the Grassroots program in September. The colt is owned by Carl Jamieson and Thomas Kyron.
Jody Jamieson’s other Grassroots Semifinal triumph came in the last pacing filly test with Rene Laarman trainee Palm Patrol. The Mach Three daughter took control of the pace at the three-quarter marker and then battled down the stretch to a neck victory over fan favourite and division point leader Eat Me Up. Regally Blonde finished third, with Machintosh and Almost Midnight completing the list of qualifiers for the Grassroots Final.
Guelph resident Laarman trains Palm Patrol for owner and breeder Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein. In 10 freshman starts the filly boasts a record of three wins and two thirds for earnings of $47,960.
Jamieson also qualified his mount in the other pacing filly Semifinal, finishing third aboard fan favourite Katys Jet. The pair were bested by Paul MacDonell and Lyons Luck who sprinted home to a two and one-half length victory in 1:57.1. Memumsnotnice picked up the second-place finisher’s share, with Premier Indigo and Stonebridge Sassy advancing to the Final from fourth and fifth.
James Ciaran Morrison trains Lyons Luck for Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford and has sent the Camluck miss behind the gate six times this summer, watching her post two wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of $38,760.
Majestic Taglet delivered a strong effort to grab the trophy in the first two-year-old trotting filly Semifinal. The Majestic Son daughter fought her way up the outside to a half length victory over Barbie And Ken. Fan favourite and division point leader Dayplanner finished three and one-quarter lengths behind the leaders in the 1:59.1 mile. Random Choice and Margarita De Vie were five lengths back in fourth and fifth.
Roland Rocco of Lasalle, QC and Benoit Gendron of Beaconsfield, QC share ownership of five time winner Majestic Taglet, with Claude Beausoleil handling training duties and Mario Charron sitting in the driver’s seat.
St. George Brant resident Garrett Whelan captured the other trotting filly Semifinal with Can I Say, who simply dominated her competition from Post 9, sailing home seven and one-quarter lengths on top in a sharp 1:57.2.
Thundering Ovation, Striking Forever, Joys Mutinee and Stary Ives were well back of the leader in second through fifth. Fan favourite Lovely Vacation made a break and knocked herself out of contention early.
Whelan trains Can I Say for owner-breeders Terry and Clarence Devos of Langton and James Whelan of Troy. The Fourth And One daughter boasts a record of four wins in six starts this summer for earnings of $51,000.
The top five finishers from each Semifinal will now prepare for their respective $100,000 Grassroots Finals, which go postward at Mohawk Racetrack next Saturday, Oct. 1. The two-year-old pacers and trotters will be joined on Grassroots Championship night by their three-year-old peers, who battle in Semifinal action at the Campbellville oval tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 24.
For complete results please go to: Mohawk Racetrack Results — Sept. 23, 2011