BELLEVILLE, ON — Mark Steacy sent a trio of two-year-old trotting colts into the Grassroots fray for the first time on Friday evening at Quinte Exhibition Raceway and the Lansdowne resident found his way to the winner’s circle with Keystone Saint.
Starting from Post 2 Keystone Saint sat well back of pacesetter Tyrone Showdown at the :31 opening quarter, but when the leader made a break heading for the 1:05.2 half and left Keystone Saint in command, the colt delivered a gutsy performance to land the three-quarter length victory in 2:08.2.
King Clifford pressured Keystone Saint through the last half of the mile, but did not make any headway and had to settle for second. Tyrone Showdown recovered from the break to finish third in the $15,000 contest.
Steacy trains Keystone Saint for his partners David Reid of Glenburnie, David McDonald of Cornwall and George Judson of Athens. The group acquired the son of Angus Hall and Keystone Scarlett for $50,000 US at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale and have watched the young trotter score two wins and one fifth in three starts this season.
Trainer Wayne Henry kicked off what could be a big weekend for the Henry Stable with three victories in Grassroots action at Quinte on Friday. The Arthur resident opened the evening’s festivities with a victory aboard Archies Dream in the first division, recovering from an early break in stride to claim a three-quarter length decision in 2:11.2.
Archies Dream now has two wins and one second in three Grassroots starts and sits atop the divisions standings with a total of 125 points. Sopman Holdings Limited of Thornhill and the Henry Stable of Arthur bred and own the son of Angus Hall and Royal Angel.
Princeton Maple and Orion Seelster rounded out the top three in the first Grassroots division.
Henry was back in the winner’s circle after Race 9 with Mr Lavec son Twin B Decalf. The pair tagged along behind pacesetter Goodtoseeyadad through fractions of :32.3, 1:03.3 and 1:35.4 before accelerating down the stretch to the one and one-quarter length win in 2:07.3. Goodtoseeyadad stayed game for second, while Kings Champion recovered from an early break to claim the third-place share of the Grassroots purse.
The Henry Stable and Daniel McCann of Parkhill share ownership on Twin B Decalf, who currently sits fifth in the division standings with one win and two third place finishes at the halfway point in the freshman trotting colt season.
Wayne Henry also harnessed the winner of Race 10, T Js Mr Lavec, who was piloted to a 2:10.1 victory by his brother Trevor Henry. Guilford and Chuckalo Malabar were three lengths back in second and third.
Trevor Henry, who makes his home in Arthur, bred and shares ownership on TJs Mr Lavec with partner James Laverty of Sauble Beach. Through three Grassroots starts the son of Mr Lavec and Tire Derable boasts one win, one third and one fourth-place finish for a total of 70 points and sole ownership of sixth-place in the division standings.
Henry’s nephew Nick Henry piloted the winner of the fastest Grassroots division on Friday, steering My Rebelious Ways to a 2:06.2 triumph over P C Promising Duke and Kerryontomidnight.
Mount Forest resident Nick Henry also trains and owns My Rebelious Ways, who has accumulated 100 Grassroots points through a pair of victories. The son of CR Renegade and former Grassroots winner Independent Girl currently sits tied for second in the race for one of 16 berths in the post season.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Callan in 2:08.1, Stonebridge Spirit in 2:08.2 and Keystone Empire in 2:12.4.
The two-year-old trotting colts make their fourth Grassroots start of the season on Aug. 18 at Rideau Carleton Raceway. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Quinte Exhibition Raceway for the last time this season next Friday, Aug. 11, featuring Grassroots action for the two-year-old trotting fillies.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rblvlfr.html