LONDON, ON — The level of competition in the three-year-old pacing colt Grassroots division has been exceptional this season and Friday night’s regular season finale at Western Fair Raceway promises nothing less as the top colt vie for one of 16 spots in the Oct. 27 Semifinal.
Heading into Friday’s event the cut off for the top 16 stands at an impressive 99 points and there are several colts currently sitting in the second tier who have a legitimate shot to move into the post season with a victory at Western Fair. As a result, the top colts will be on the offensive on Friday night, hoping to pad their point totals with another solid finish.
Among the division leaders looking for one last victory before heading into the post season is Corona Grande, who will start from Post 3 in the tenth race for trainer Jack Darling of Windsor and Dan Smith of London. The Camluck son currently sits in a three-way tie for sixth in the standings and returns to the Grassroots level after battling the top dogs in the Gold Series earlier this month.
“Let’s face it, he’s a borderline “A” event horse, but he’s one of the better Grassroots horses,” says Smith. “And I want to make sure I get enough points to make the Grassroots Semifinal. I’m playing both sides against the fence here, trying to cover all my bases before the end of the season.”
Corona Grande earned 68 points in two tries at the Gold Series level and could start in the $300,000 Super Final on Nov. 16 at Mohawk Racetrack, but Smith says he is leaning towards the Grassroots Semifinal at this point unless the gelding comes up with a big effort at Western Fair.
“He has a better chance at doing well in there and if he wins the Grassroots Semifinal and Final going for $130,000 it’s heck of a lot more than I’m going to get in the Super Final,” says the long time Standardbred owner. “If he gets a trip in the Gold he gets a piece of it, but he’s what you call an inbetweener.”
Up until the wild card at Clinton Raceway on Sept. 8 Corona Grande had been undefeated through two seasons at the Grassroots level, and Smith would like to see the youngster return to his winning ways before heading into post season play.
“He really needs to win a race, to pull up his spirits a little,” he says. “And that bunch (in Race 10), they’re tough, but I’ll play with them.”
Among the colts Corona Grande will face in his quest for a third Grassroots win are a pair also ranked in the top 16. Cliftons Revenge sits in second spot with 155 points from two wins, two seconds and one fifth in five Grassroots starts and will attempt to move into the lead from Post 1, while Wilder Echo is in a three-way tied for eighth spot with two wins and one fourth in three Grassroots outings and will start from Post 5.
The exciting sophomore pacing colts kick off Western Fair Raceway’s program at 6:30 pm on Friday and will also raise the trackside temperature in Races 2, 6, 8, and 10.