FRASERVILLE, ON — Eilean Donon scored the fastest win of four Grassroots divisions at Kawartha Downs on Thursday evening. The two-year-old trotting colt and driver Tom Strauss circled the Fraserville oval, rated two seconds slower than normal due to the wet weather, in 2:03.3.
Sent off as the fans’ top choice, Strauss and Eilean Donon moved strongly off the starting gate from Post 7 and took control of the race just past the :31.1 opening quarter. From there the Angus Hall son pulled away from the field with every step, increasing his lead to two and one quarter lengths at the 1:03.2 half, two and a half lengths by the 1:33.2 three-quarters and five and a half lengths at the wire.
Mathers Lavec survived a trip up the outside to earn the second-place finisher’s share of the $24,482 purse and Making Greeno landed in third with a steady effort.
Brad Maxwell trains Eilean Donon for owner-breeders Joseph Taylor of Lexington, KY and Steve Stewart of Paris, KY.
Strauss also found himself in the Kawartha Downs winner’s circle after the first Grassroots division. Leaving from Post 1, the Acton resident opted to stalk the pace with Armbro Balance, allowing Im Frick to roll through fractions of :30.2, 1:02.3 and 1:33 while he bided his time in fourth.
As the colts turned for home Strauss shifted Armbro Balance into gear and the Michael Guitard trainee powered past the tiring front runner to score the 2:05 victory by a length. Im Frick stayed game for second, while fan favourite Windsong Aston settled for third.
Haryott Stables Inc. of Etobicoke own Armbro Balance, who was a $35,000 yearling purchase at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale.
Another Ontario Sires Stakes veteran, Ross Battin, steered Shady Suspect to a victory in the third division for Peter and Curtis Clements of Dobbinton. Battin and the Incredible Abe son eased off the gate from Post 3 and watched patiently as Parkside Brad zipped through early fractions of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:32.2.
Sitting second by a length and a half as the field straightened out for the drive to the wire, Shady Suspect trotted to a quarter length win over Shipps Cruiser and Parkside Brad in 2:04.2.
The other division went to long shot E B Lenny and trainer-driver Peter Hamilton who stuck a neck in front of favourite Beardmore to earn the 2:06.3 victory. T Js Incredible Lad earned the third-place cheque.
Hamilton trains the Kawartha Debonair son for breeder Bazil Seabrook of Iron Bridge.
The freshman trotting colts make their second Grassroots start on Aug. 4 at Dresden Raceway, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement is back at Kawartha Downs this Saturday, July 12 with an action -packed program featuring a $130,000 Gold Final for the three-year-old trotting fillies and five Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old trotting fillies.