FRASERVILLE, ON — Golden Genes Hall delivered an impressive effort in Grassroots action at Kawartha Downs on Thursday evening, trotting around the soggy Fraserville oval in 1:59.2.

Trainer John Duke Sugg drove Golden Genes Hall to the victory, stalking pacesetter The Mash Potato through fractions of :29.3, :59.1 and 1:29, and then accelerating down the stretch to the one length score. The Mash Potato settled for second, trotting under the wire six and three-quarter lengths ahead of third-place finisher Jack Man.

Wayne Farthing of Findlay, OH owns Golden Genes Hall, who had recorded second and third-place finishes in his first two Grassroots starts. Thursday’s victory bumped the Striking Sahbra son up to eighth in the division point standings, with just one regular season event remaining before the top 16 two-year-old trotting colts return to Kawartha Downs for their Oct. 20 Grassroots Semifinal.

White Hot elbowed his way into a tie for the top spot in the standings with a gate to wire 2:04.1 score in the last $17,109 Grassroots division. Arthur resident Trevor Henry guided the Berndt Hanover son to the one length victory over Stonebridge Keeper and Mackrest for his brother, trainer Wayne Henry of Arthur, and their partner Shawn Dixon of London.

Through seven starts the half-brother to $1.66 million winner Abbey Road C now has two Grassroots wins and three seconds, and shares the division lead with stablemate Norwell Incredable with a total of 125 points.

Norwell Incredable had to settle for the runner-up’s share in the second Grassroots division, unable to fend off fan favourite Nureyev, who closed hard in the stretch to claim a half length victory in 2:03.1. John Bax trainee Dandy Duke rounded out the top three.

Owned by Common Sense Stable of Rockwood, Layhoon Chan Brunner of Etobicoke, Sweet Serenity Stable of Kingston and Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, AB, Nureyev was making his first lifetime start on Thursday after winning a Sept. 21 qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack in 2:01.2. Bill Companion trains the Striking Sahbra son, who is one of nine colts currently tied for the sixteenth spot in the Grassroots post season.

Start Livin, who stormed to a six length victory in the first Grassroots division, and Mr Mission, who hung on for a half length decision in the fourth division, are also among the challengers vying for that last Semifinal berth.

Danterra Racing Stable of Strathroy bred and owns Start Livin, who was visiting the winner’s circle for the first time in three starts. Another son of Striking Sahbra, Start Livin delivered an impressive come from behind effort to score the 2:02 victory over Hug It Out and Driven To Thrill. Dan Creighton trains the novice trotter, and �Mr. OSS’ Dave Wall drove the colt to the win.

Mr Mission and trainer-driver Carl Jamieson employed front end tactics to secure their 2:01.4 victory, digging in down the stretch to hold off fan favourite Abe Linkin and Repayment. Princeton resident Jamieson shares ownership on the Mr Lavec son with Ken Henwood of Mississauga.

Jamieson tried similar tactics with Kangamangus in Race 5, but had to settle for second when Rodeo Red and Bill O’Donnell surged by them in the stretch and went on to a one and one-half length win in 2:00.4. Ballykeel Mike rounded out the top three.

Darren McCall trains Rodeo Red for Lynne Foley of Salvisa, KY, Mimi Lenenberg of Pittsburgh, PA and Clare Semer of Palm Beach, FL. The chestnut son of Striking Sahbra moved into ninth position in the division standings with the win, his first in five starts.

The two-year-old trotting colts will meet on Oct. 8 at Grand River Raceway for their last regular season Grassroots event, and then the top 16 point earners will make their way back to Kawartha Downs for a pair of $30,000 Semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 20. The Fraserville oval will also host the three-year-old Grassroots Semifinals on Thursday, Oct. 18, and then welcome back both age groups for the $800,000 Grassroots Championship evening on Saturday, Oct. 27.

For complete results please go to:

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