LONDON, ON — On Monday evening, in the first of two Grassroots programs that Western Fair Raceway will host this week, the three-year-old pacing colts delivered an outstanding display of speed and ability.

Among the impressive winners was local favourite Cuban Seelster, who was forced out three-wide at the three-quarter mark before sweeping home to a 1:56.1 victory for trainer Ray Bunn of Denfield, McCarthy Family Farms Ltd. of Granton, Tara Foy of Ilderton and Don Thomson of St. Marys.

Leaving from Post 5 in the seven horse field, Cuban Seelster and regular reinsman Luc Ouellette had London fans worrying about their investment when they were 13 lengths off the pace at the :27 opening quarter. However, the pair steadily advanced on pacesetter Whitesand Raider, moving to within eight lengths at the :56.2 half and then taking command with their bold move at the 1:26.4 three-quarters. At the wire Cuban Seelster had half a length on runner-up Million Dollar Bay and two and a half lengths on third-place finisher Laurel Canyon.

The win was Cuban Seelster’s third in eight starts this season, and the 1:56.1 mile improved on his personal best by four-fifths of a second. The Intrepid Seelster gelding pushed his lifetime earnings to $58,343 with the win.

Three of the Grassroots divisions were clocked in 1:54 or faster, with Junior K claiming the quickest trip around the half-mile oval. The Astreos son and driver Robert Shepherd hit the wire in an unchallenged 1:53.3, four and a half lengths ahead of Oakley Seelster and seven lengths up on Runaway Devil.

Legendary horseman Keith Waples owns and trains Junior K, who was bred by Twinbrook Farms in Embro. Guelph resident Waples has conditioned the pacer to six victories and two seconds in 10 starts this season.

Just one-fifth of a second slower than Junior K was Justa Regular Joe, who went gate-to-wire in the second race in a personal best 1:53.4. Brad Forward engineered the snappy mile for trainer John Bond and owners Montana Racing Stable of Mississauga. Twin B Impact and Ultrasonic finished ten lengths behind the fan favourite.

The other colt who brought his speed shoes to London was Wholly Louy, who also employed a front end strategy to log his 1:54 triumph in Race 7. The Camluck son and driver Brad Forward wasted no time overcoming Post 7, firing straight to the front and reeling off fractions of :26.2, :55.2 and 1:24.2 on their way to the two length victory over Grin And Tonic and Emmys Passion. Bill Elliott trains Wholly Louy for owner-breeder Robert Hamather of Exeter.

The win aboard Wholly Louy completed a Grassroots driving triple for Brad Forward, who kicked off the evening with a 1:56 win behind Bill Elliott trainee Mighty And Strong. The victory was the second straight for Astreos son Mighty And Strong, who is owned by Canamerica Capital Corp. and Hyatt Holdings Inc. of Milton and William Jones of Lexington, KY.

Gunsmoke VMW, owned by VMW Stables JV of London, and Hareinmotion rounded out the top three in the first $15,000 Grassroots division.

The other Grassroots winners were Totally Excellent in 1:57, Blatantly Good in 1:55.3, Don’t Fool Me Now in 1:55.1, The Grin Man in 1:55.2, Presidential Sam in 1:56.1, and Whitesand Noble in 1:57.1.

The three-year-old pacing colts make their second Grassroots stop at Clinton Raceway on July 15, while Grassroots action returns to Western Fair Raceway tomorrow afternoon, Tuesday, June 19, with eight divisions of talented three-year-old trotting colts.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rlonmo.html