WOODSTOCK, ON — Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing colts are headed to Woodstock Raceway on Saturday afternoon in 11 Grassroots divisions worth a total of $198,000.
With two Grassroots events complete, the top point earners will be looking to pad their lead atop the division standings with solid efforts at Woodstock. Island Zeeker, owned by Donald Douglas of Ingersoll, will make his second appearance in the Grassroots on Saturday and would like to add to the 50 points he earned winning a division of the July 1 season opener. The Albert Albert son will help kick off the afternoon’s festivities from Post 8 in the first race and trainer Scott McNiven says the trailing position may be a good spot for the novice pacer.
“As long as everyone behaves well in front of him the eight-hole might be a good thing, because you can take your time a little more and not rush him,” says the Putnam resident. “If he were on the gate there might be a tendency to leave — because he is maybe one of the better ones in there — and it is a tight turn.”
In the July 25 Battle of Waterloo Eliminations at Elmira Raceway, Island Zeeker saw his hopes for a berth in the $200,000 Final wash up on the first turn when he struggled with driver Ray McLean’s request to move down to the rail after blasting out of Post 4. Instead of making a smooth crossover, the gelding made a break and finished out of contention.
“He just couldn’t handle the turn at that speed,” explains McNiven. “He looked like he was going to land close to the front, but he wouldn’t cross over.”
Island Zeeker heads into Saturday’s contest off an Aug. 7 prep at Hiawatha Horse Park where he paced a solid 1:56.3 mile against older competition. While the gelding did not hit the board, McNiven was still pleased with the performance and hopes the young pacer is catching on to the business of racing.
“We were really happy with him. He couldn’t get out, but he looked like a racehorse,” says the trainer. “He’s just on the edge of whether he can do in the Gold Series or not, but in the fall, two or three more starts down the road, I think he will be able to.”
After his victory in the first Grassroots event, Douglas and McNiven opted to give Island Zeeker a try in the Gold Series, where he finished sixth in his July 10 elimination. To earn another shot at the province’s top colts Island Zeeker and regular driver Greg Dustin will be looking for a solid performance on Saturday.
Among the colts the duo will face is Cloaked In Glory, who heads into his Grassroots debut off a pair of 2:01 wins at Rideau Carleton Raceway. The Rene Bourassa trainee and driver Don McElroy will start directly in front of Island Zeeker from Post 1.
Woodstock Raceway sends the first division of two-year-old pacing colts to the post at 1:15 pm and the youngsters also star in Races 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. In addition to the excitement of the Ontario Sires Stakes program, Woodstock also plays host to two divisions of the popular Summertime Series in Races 5 and 6.