FRASERVILLE, ON — Mr Bigstir created a stir at Kawartha Downs on Thursday evening, delivering a 1:56.3 upset in the last of five Grassroots divisions for the talented two-year-old pacing colts.

Local favourites Jammed Lucky and Kurt Hughes took early command of the race and reached the opening quarter in :28.1, but their tenure at the front was short-lived as driver Brad Forward moved Mr Bigstir after the lead and the Astreos colt stormed by to a :58.1 half.

Heading for the three-quarters Hughes sent Jammed Lucky back up the outside, but Mr Bigstir refused to yield and the pair battled to a 1:26.3 three-quarters before Jammed Lucky gave up the fight and awarded the three and three-quarter length victory to Mr Bigstir. Jens Beach Boy finished third, just over four lengths behind Jammed Lucky, who is owned by Trudy Sucee and Earl Joseph of Bowmanville and Bill Hauber of Oshawa.

The win marked Mr Bigstir’s first appearance in the winner’s circle, coming in his second lifetime start. Ricky Montgomery trains the young pacer, a $2,500 bargain at last fall’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale, for William Thompson of Markdale and Samuel Thompson of Orton.

Forward also piloted Lyons Geoff to a 1:57 victory in the first $21,898 Grassroots division. The reinsman, who currently sits third in the Ontario Sires Stakes driver’s standings, fired the colt straight to the front from the outside Post 8 and Lyons Geoff cruised home a two and three-quarter length winner over Gasinthetank and fan favourite Sauble Dewy.

Geoffrey Lyons Mound of North Wales, GB owns Lyons Geoff, who was a $45,000 US purchase at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale last November. Bill Elliott trains the son of Astreos and Kabala Hanover.

In the second division Allamerican Dice matched Mr Bigstir’s 1:56.3 mile with a front end effort for driver Roger Mayotte and trainer Susanne Kerwood. Grinfromharetother, bred and owned by David Snowden of Bowmanville, finished three-quarters of a length back in second and Twin B Brat was two more lengths back in third.

Irving Bork of Ellington, CT purchased Allamerican Dice for $22,000 US at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale. The Grinfromeartoear son is the second foal from $160,729 winner Dianajackie.

Favourite Step By Step and driver Ross Battin also used front end tactics to score a 1:57.3 victory in Race 4, hitting the wire three-quarters of a length up on Dougs Fame and Sturges Hanover. Larry Fitzsimmons trains the homebred son of Rambaran for Linda Fitzsimmons, Leslie Jackson and Alfred Maylard of London.

Ratings Hanover picked up a 1:57.3 win in the fourth division, which saw Excel Nine one and a half lengths back in second and Motorboat Man and Moiseyev in a deadheat for third, one and three-quarter lengths behind the winner.

Puslinch resident Tom Durand trains, drives and owns Ratings Hanover in partnership with his wife June Durand. The couple acquired the Mach Three half-brother to $1 million winner Restive Hanover for a mere $27,000 US in Harrisburg.

The two-year-old pacing colts will make their second Grassroots appearance on Aug. 18 at Hanover Raceway, while Kawartha Downs fans are treated to Gold Elimination action from the remarkable two-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday, July 31.

For complete results please go to:

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