FRASERVILLE, ON — Indiana Hall returned to Grassroots action at Kawartha Downs on Thursday evening and roared around the Peterborough oval to a 1:56.3 triumph in the fourth of five $19,467 divisions.

After battling the Gold Series colts through the month of August, Indiana Hall made short work of his Grassroots peers Thursday, cruising to a four and one-quarter length victory over Chosen Voyageur and Oaklea Orlando.

The 1:56.3 effort lowered Indiana Hall’s personal best by almost a full second and improved his sophomore record to six wins, three seconds and one third in 13 starts. Robert Fellows trains the talented Striking Sahbra gelding for S S G Stables of North Boston, NY.

Indiana Hall wrapped up the Grassroots regular season in third spot in the division point standings, in behind a pair of colts who saw their quest for a perfect season go up in smoke on Thursday. Heading into the regular season finale, both Heaven And Hall and I’m Classy boasted a perfect record of five wins in five Grassroots starts, but both colts were soundly beaten on Thursday.

In the first division Broadway Seelster and Paul Walker posted a major upset, sprinting down the stretch from fourth to claim a neck victory over Ericskarri, favourite Starsel, Joey The Jet JT and Heaven And Hall.

The 1:58 win was Broadway Seelster’s second in Grassroots action and bumped him from eleventh to fourth in the division standings. David Furness trains the Angus Hall son for Cambrook Stable of Campbellville.

One race later I’m Classy could not overcome the outside Post 8 and finished sixth, well behind winner Ebony Strike, who stopped the clock at 1:58.1.

Leaving from Post 7, driver Robert Shepherd and Ebony Strike sprinted to the front and laid down fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:28.1 on their way to the one and one-quarter length victory over The Orient Express and Random Attack.

Thursday’s outing was only Ebony Strike’s second start of the season ad marked his second straight appearance in the winner’s circle. A Breeders Crown finalist at two, Ebony Strike qualified in June but saw his season evaporate after being scratched sick out of his first start. The Striking Sahbra colt did not return to the races until Sept. 12 when he won an overnight event at Georgian Downs in 2:00.3.

Ryan Maxwell trains Ebony Strike for breeders Douglas Millard of Woodstock and Jerry Vanboekel of Bright.

The other two Grassroots divisions went to Norththerushison in 1:58 and King Covenant in 1:58.2.

The top 16 point earners will now set their sights on a pair of $30,000 Semifinals at Flamboro Downs on Sept. 29. The top four finishers from each Semifinal will then compete in the $100,000 Grassroots Championship at Flamboro on Oct. 7.

Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Kawartha Downs on Thursday, Oct. 26 when then three-year-old pacing fillies compete in their third and final Trillium Series event.

For complete results please go to:

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