HANOVER, ON — The key to capturing a Grassroots trophy at Hanover Raceway on Saturday evening was employing someone with the last name Fritz to drive your horse.

Of the five Grassroots divisions contested at Hanover on Saturday, Fritz’s captured four, with Randy taking the first two and Terry claiming the last pair.

Randy Fritz kicked the evening off with a bang, piloting Sudburysatrdaynite to the fastest win of the five divisions. In spite of being handicapped by the outside Post 7 and suffering interference at the halfway marker, the Northern Luck son cruised to a 1:59.1 victory over Hillarys Conquest and Full Impact.

Chance Stewart of Campbellville trains Sudburysatrdaynite for his partner Mike West of Georgetown and prepped the colt for Saturday’s contest with a pair of qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack. A $4,000 purchase at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale the colt put his owners more than $6,000 in the black in his first start.

In the second Grassroots division, Fritz and Acceptable Risk took a much easier tour of the half mile oval, taking control of the race before the half and cruising home to a four and a half length victory in 2:01.1. Runner-up Fantasy Beau overcame Post 7 and traffic trouble to earn the second largest chunk of the $20,990 purse, while favourite Lotto Killean settled for third.

Windsor resident Fred Drouillard bred, owns and trains Acceptable Risk, whose half brother Fred’s Good Friday earned $116,340.

Trevor Henry halted Randy Fritz’s run with a victory aboard Northern Luck colt Run For Gold in the sixth race. The pair hit the wire one and a half lengths up on favourite Underground King and Dreamluck in 1:59.4 for trainer Jack Darling of Cambridge and Daniel Smith of London.

Randy Fritz was without a drive in the fourth Grassroots division, so it was left to older brother Terry to keep the ball rolling and the Walkerton resident accomplished the task with a first up trip behind Wingandaprayer.

Owned by Millar Farms of Newmarket and trained by Robert Atkin, Grinfromeartoear son Wingandaprayer toughed it out on the outside and still had enough zip through the stretch to clock a 1:59.3 victory. Eagle Luck and Ancient Highway earned the second and third-place shares.

Two races later Terry Fritz evened things up with his brother, piloting Rare Copy to a 2:02 win for Atkin and Millar Farms.

Fritz tucked the Grinfromeartoear son in behind Rustys Harley and then outsprinted the pacesetter to the wire to record the one and a half length win. Randy Fritz was another length back in third with Equine Raider.

The two-year-old pacing colts make their second Grassroots start at Clinton Raceway on July 17, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Hanover on Saturday, July 23 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old pacing fillies.

For a complete list of Saturday’s results please go to:

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