HANOVER, ON — Murray Brethour scored a double during the 4H/Ontario Sires Stakes Night at the Races at Hanover Raceway on Saturday night, capturing two of seven Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing colts.
The Sunderland trainer piloted Windsun Cardigan to a 2:00.3 victory in the ninth race with an impressive come-from-behind effort that saw them 14 lengths to the rear at the halfway marker. Leaving from Post 8 Brethour and the Run The Table son landed in fourth spot through the early going, but were 15 lengths off the pace.
The duo began to make up ground after the halfway point in the race and were just six lengths back at the three-quarters and four back at the top of the stretch. When the colt straightened out for home Brethour asked for a gear change and Windsun Cardigan delivered in impressive fashion, reaching the wire one length ahead of second and third-place finishers St Lads Mark and St Lads Rookie.
Windsun Farm of Uxbridge bred and owns Windsun Cardigan, whose debut in the Grassroots at Quinte Raceway on July 1 was marred by a break at the half.
Brethour’s second victory came in the next race, as he sent Fameplay on a very different route to the winner’s circle. Brethour and the Apaches Fame son fired off the gate from Post 5 and went straight to the front, continually increasing their lead until they reached the wire five lengths ahead of the field in 1:58.2, just two-fifths of a second off the freshman pacing colt track record. Artic Premium overtook The Hustler to pick up the second-place finisher’s share, leaving Artic Premium the third-place cheque.
Brethour trains Fameplay for Peter La Rush of Omemee and George Blatherwick of Shannonville. Hanover fans made the colt their top choice based on a sharp 1:59.1 qualifier at Georgian Downs on July 6.
In the final division Sensational Rocket also recorded an impressive victory for owners Garf N Duke Stable and Mike Bannon of London and Donald Douglas and John Shepley of Ingersoll. The Pacific Rocket colt and driver Jim McClure took control of the race just past the quarter mile pole and never needed to glance back as they cruised home to a five length score in 1:59.4. King Jack Macleod and Murphy, owned by Triple C Stable of Tara, battled down the stretch into second and third spots.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Armbro Avenue in 2:00.1, Faded Blue Jeans in 2:01.4, Daylon Hornet in 2:02 and Jimmy Crack Cohen in 2:00.4.
The two-year-old pacing colts make their next Grassroots appearance at Kawartha Downs on Aug. 17. Ontario Sires Stakes action is back at Hanover Raceway next Saturday with a Trillium Series event for the two-year-old trotting fillies.