ELMIRA — From nine contestants in Monday evening’s Grassroots event at Elmira Raceway, the Henry Stables of Arthur took home two trophies, two runner-up cheques and one third, one fourth and one fifth-place pay stub for a grand total of $31,500 in Ontario Sires Stakes purse money.
Heading the list of triumphs from the Henry string were Grand Turk and Earl Vic Dol, who both picked up their first lifetime wins in addition to the Grassroots hardware.
In Race 3 driver Trevor Henry and Grand Turk stalked the pace from fourth as Beamer Rimz led the field of sophomore trotting colts through fractions of :30.4, 1:02.1 and 1:33. As the trotters turned for home Henry fired up the Royal Strength son and the duo out sprinted Diamond Turk and pacesetter Beamer Rimz to the wire, stopping the teletimer at 2:03.1.
The Henry Stable, comprised of trainer Ross Henry and his sons Trevor and Wayne, owns Grand Turk in partnership with breeder Dale Baker of Vienna.
Four races later Trevor Henry opted for a front-end strategy to land in the Elmira winner’s circle with Earl Vic Dol. The Earl son cruised to the front from Post 1 and never needed to glance back, sailing under the wire unchallenged in 2:03.3, three lengths ahead of Prince Earl and Best Ball.
Earl Vic Dol was a consistent competitor on the Grassroots scene at two, earning his way into the post season and banking $20,978 for the Henry Stable and James Laverty of Sauble Beach.
Although Henry was unable to pilot his son’s horse Canadian Banker to a win in the fifth race, settling instead for a fourth-place share of the $18,000 purse, Bruce Richardson stepped onto the race bike behind Odee Tantie and steered the K M Lazer son to a runner-up finish behind record setting Wireless Image.
In rein to two-time Lampman Cup winner Don McElroy, Wireless Image trotted into fourth spot from Post 6 and then steadily reeled in Richardson and Odee Tantie through rapid-fire fractions of :29.4, 1:00 and 1:31.1. As the colts moved by the three-quarters McElroy put Wireless Image on the lead and turning for home the Balanced Image son pulled away to an eight length margin, hitting the wire in a track record 2:01.1.
Lasalle resident Bob McIntosh, the reigning Johnston Cup champion as top trainer in the Ontario Sires Stakes, trains Wireless Image for his partners CSX Stables of Liberty Center, OH and Michael Kohler of Sterling Heights, MI. The 2:01.1 mile, which shaved three-fifths of a second off Star Acadian’s 1997 effort, was a personal best for the winner of $22,954.
Armbro Affluent recovered from a miscue at the half to earn third-place honours in Race 5.
McElroy and McIntosh also made a second appearance in the winner’s circle after the ninth race when Tyrone Dillon, who crossed the line in the runner-up spot, was moved into first after Elmira racing officials ruled that winner Bone Crusher had caused interference at the three-quarter mile marker. Brisk Success picked up the third-place finisher’s share.
McIntosh, CSX Stables and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville share ownership on Tyrone Dillon, another son of Balanced Image.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Zoltar Seelster in 2:04.1 and Certified Election in 2:02.4.
The sophomore trotting colts make their second Grassroots circuit stop at Sarnia’s Hiawatha Horse Park on July 3, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Elmira Raceway this Friday evening with a pair of Gold Series Eliminations for the sensational three-year-old pacing fillies.