ELORA, ON — Trainer Peter Clements and driver Ross Battin continued to steam through the two-year-old trotting colt division with a pair of victories in Grassroots action at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening.
The pair teamed up with The Orient Express to notch the fastest win on the program in Race 7, with Battin and the Royal Ballad son circling the Elora oval in a smart 2:02.4. Leaving from Post 1 Battin settled The Orient Express in second behind Duke Of Connaught and then powered up in the stretch to score the quarter length victory over the pacesetter. Starsel, owned by the Henry Stable of Arthur and Alan Bodin of Rockwood, finished 13 lengths back in third.
Owned by breeder Elwood Irwin of Guelph, The Orient Express has been flawless through his last three Grassroots starts. The only blemish on his freshman record was an early break in the Grassroots season opener at Hiawatha Horse Park that saw him make up a 20 length deficit to finish fifth. The gelding currently sits third in the Grassroots point standings, behind three-time winner Laurent and his undefeated stablemate Potential Renegade.
Potential Renegade kicked off the Grassroots festivities on Monday evening with his fifth straight victory, an effortless two and a three-quarter length romp clocked in 2:04.1. Dobbinton resident Clements bred the CR Renegade son and shares ownership on him with daughter Amy, also of Dobbinton.
Armbro Decent, owned by Elmira residents George Zirnis and Thomas Cousineau, finished second in the first $15,000 division and BJs Perfect Gus rounded out the top three.
Laurent overcame a brief bobble at the three-quarter mark to score his third straight victory in the fifth division. The Angus Hall son and trainer-driver Ted Jacobs were leading the field by three lengths when the colt broke stride, but were able to recover in time to earn the 2:06.4 victory over Deputy Dylan and Lord Quagmire.
Breeders Duncan Beattie of Ancaster and Julian Bertozzi of Burlington own Laurent, who boasts a record of three wins and one third in four Grassroots starts for a total of 162 points.
Trainer Keith Jones teamed Sovereign Way to his second Grassroots victory in Race 10. The pair carved all the fractions, fought off a challenge from Aforgottendynasty at the three-quarter pole and then pulled away to a four and a half length win in 2:07.4. Aforgottendynasty stayed game for second and Clay Face overcame interference at the start to claim the third-place finisher’s cheque.
Midhurst resident Jones trains Incredible Abe son Sovereign Way for George Charlton of Utopia.
Lets Get Er Done was also an impressive winner in Race 6, powering off the starting gate from Post 7 and cruising to a five and a half length victory in 2:05.1. Nelson White trains and drives the Super Pleasure son for Paul Cote of Burlington and Deborah White of Rockwood and Monday marked the colt’s first trip to the winner’s circle through five starts this season.
Berndt My But and Sams Wiggles rounded out the top three in the sixth race. The other Grassroots divisions went to I’m Classy in 2:04.4 and Armbro Delta in 2:05.5.
The two-year-old trotting colts return to Grassroots action on Sept. 9 at Quinte Exhibition Raceway, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement does not return to Grand River Raceway until Friday, Sept. 23 when the two-year-old trotting fillies drop in for their fifth Grassroots event.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgrvrmo.html