INNISFIL, ON — Bootilicious scored the fastest win of six Grassroots divisions at Georgian Downs on Saturday, pacing to a 1:53.2 personal best in the second race.
In rein to Michael Langdon, Bootilicious survived a long trip around the outside and had enough left over to outsprint Downhill Skier and Whitesand Lord to the wire. The one length win was the Camluck gelding’s sixth of the season and his fourth in six Grassroots starts, good enough to push him into first-place in the division point race.
Darren McCall trains Bootilicious for Stake Your Claim Stable of Seacaucus, NJ and Let It Ride Stables Inc. of Delray Beach, FL. The gelding has earned $58,654 this season through 18 starts.
Northern Raucous also delivered an impressive performance in the first division, controlling the race from start to finish and clocking a 1:53.3 personal best from Post 8. Veteran reinsman Tony Kerwood fired the Northern Luck son off the gate and never glanced over his shoulder as the pair cruised to the one and three-quarter length victory over Quiet Flight and Ready For Battle.
Jay Cochlin trains Northern Raucous for Capital A Investments Ltd. of Lower Cambridge, NB. The victory secured the colt a berth in the Oct. 23 Grassroots Semifinals at Georgian Downs, giving him a total of 132 points from two wins, two thirds and one fourth in six Grassroots starts.
Bees N Honey maintained the quick tempo with a narrow 1:53.4 victory over Our Lucky Killean and Chicane in Race 4. The Village Jiffy son and driver Dan Clements opted for the come from behind route up the outside and hung tough in the stretch to secure the victory.
Joe Stutzman trains Bees N Honey for Shawn Christner of Lisle, IL, David Falzone of Lake In The Hills, IL and Edward Mihalek of Glenellyn, IL. The win was the colt’s second in two Grassroots starts and should be enough to land him in the post season.
Island Zeeker also scored his second straight Grassroots win and his third of the season in Race 10. The Scott McNiven trainee and driver Jody Jamieson trailed Something Fishy up the outside and then powered down the stretch to the 1:54.4 victory by a length. Something Fishy stayed game for second and Im A Rustler Too landed in third.
Donald Douglas of Ingersoll bred and owns Albert Albert son Island Zeeker, who pushed his lifetime earnings to $87,912 with the victory.
The other two Grassroots divisions went to Trevor Jay B in 1:55 and Great Expense in 1:54.4.
The top 16 point earners will return to Georgian Downs on Oct. 23 for a pair of Semifinals, with the top four finishers from each Semifinal advancing to the $100,000 Grassroots Championship on Oct. 30.