INNISFIL, ON — Driver Robert Shepherd and Hall of Fame horseman Keith Waples teamed up to capture two of five freshman pacing colt Grassroots divisions at Georgian Downs on Saturday evening.

In Race 7 Shepherd and Hundred Diamonds started from the advantageous Post 1, but the 28 year old reinsman opted to sit in the pocket behind Anything To Win when that colt charged out to a :28.1 opening quarter. Through the :58.1 half and 1:27.2 three-quarters Shepherd sat patiently, and Hundred Diamonds was still one length behind as the colts turned for home, however a sharp finishing kick propelled Shepherd and the Astreos son down the stretch to the head victory over Anything To Win, with The Ladies Man two lengths behind the duelling leaders in third.

Guelph resident Waples acquired Hundred Diamonds for $60,000 at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, a relative bargain for the first Ontario-sired sibling to $1.4 million winner Blissful Hall. In preparation for the colt’s provincial debut, Waples qualified the youngster at Flamboro Downs on July 4, where he posted a 2:03 runner-up finish.

The 84 year old Waples harnessed his second entrant in Race 9, and Shepherd once again allowed others to set the early pace before moving In A Craze toward the front past the halfway marker. Reaching the three-quarters one and a half lengths ahead of the field in 1:26.4, the son of Astreos and $303,011 winner U Drive Me Crazy cruised home one length to the good in 1:56.

M A Sailor trailed In A Craze to claim the runner-up’s share of the $20,000 Grassroots purse and early leader Josh Seelster closed well to finish third.

A $34,000 yearling purchase from the Forest City Yearling Sale, In A Craze qualified at Flamboro Downs on June 27 in a 2:01 romp that saw him hit the wire nine lengths ahead of his peers. Waples shares ownership on In A Craze with Charles Muylaert of Nobleton.

The fastest mile of the five Grassroots divisions was clocked by Go West Lucky Cam in the first split. The Camluck colt and driver Michael Langdon eased off the starting gate from Post 3 and landed in sixth as Sterling Chris took the field to a :28 quarter. Moving to the outside before the :58 half, Langdon and Go West Lucky Cam were forced out three-wide at the 1:26.2 three-quarters before sprinting down the stretch to the 1:55.3 victory.

Garrick Seelster finished one and one-quarter lengths behind the winner in second, while Sterling Chris held on to be third.

A third generation product of their breeding program, Go West Lucky Cam is owned by trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington and Dwight Stacey of Mitchell. The brother to sophomore Grassroots competitor Go West Young Cam qualified twice at Mohawk Racetrack — finishing second on both occasions — prior to his Ontario Sires Stakes debut.

The other two Grassroots divisions went to Strand Hanover in 1:57.4 and Spanker in 1:56.3.

The two-year-old pacing colts will make the second stop on their Grassroots tour at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Aug. 14, while Georgian Downs welcomes the two-year-old trotting fillies in their third Grassroots appearance on Tuesday, Aug. 19.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgeodfsa.html.