DRESDEN, ON — Trainer Wayne Henry came within a head of sweeping all three freshman trotting colt Grassroots divisions at Dresden Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The Arthur resident captured the first two divisions and was two lengths ahead of the field with George Daniel when the colts in the last contest turned for home. However, Dresden resident Christopher Johnston and Actifate Loral were not ready to declare Henry and George Daniel the winners. Sprinting down the stretch Actifate Loral stuck a head in front of George Daniel to score a 2:05 victory, the fastest of the three Grassroots races.

Ross Hardy trains Actifate Loral for breeders Allister and Loretta Webster of Wyoming, ON. The son of New Victory and former Grassroots winner Slabtown Boots prepped for his Ontario Sires Stakes debut with a trio of qualifiers, the most recent a 2:05.4 effort at Hiawatha Horse Park on July 5.

Ernest V rounded out the top three in the final Grassroots division, finishing six lengths behind the leaders.

Henry’s brother Trevor Henry piloted the winners of the other two Grassroots divisions, making his first appearance in front of the Dresden fans with Norwell Incredable in the second race.

Leaving from Post 1, Norwell Incredable went straight to the front and never saw a serious challenge, cruising home a one length winner in 2:07.1. Trooper Steve earned the second-place share of the $33,578 purse and Soshima Meema completed the triactor, four lengths behind the winner.

The Henry Stable of Arthur and breeder Agri Lea Farms Ltd. of Moorefield share ownership on Norwell Incredable, a son of Mr Lavec and Take The Crown, who is a full sister to $724,550 Cavaliere Accent.

From the outside Post 7, Trevor Henry was forced to use a come from behind strategy with Maples Lucky Boy in the second division. The son of Malabar Maple and Northern Bliss landed fifth off the starting gate and then delivered an impressive effort, coming up the outside to advance on pacesetter Jack Man. One length behind the leader at the top of the stretch, Maples Lucky Boy was able to reel in Jack Man to post a one length victory in 2:06. PC Moonshine finished third after trailing Jack Man around the Dresden oval.

The Henry Stable and breeder James Laverty of Sauble Beach share ownership on Maples Lucky Boy, who struggled in his first two qualifiers, causing trainer Wayne Henry to add a pair of trotting hopples to the colt’s equipment bag. A third qualifier at Grand River Raceway on July 16 saw the colt trot around that half-mile oval in a steady 2:06.4, finishing second in a group of older horses.

The two-year-old trotting colts will make their second Grassroots start on Aug. 5 at Sudbury Downs, and the Ontario Sires Stakes program makes its second stop in Dresden on Civic Holiday Monday, Aug. 6 with Grassroots excitement for the two-year-old trotting fillies.

For complete results please go to:

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