CLINTON, ON — Its A Fact Jack delivered an impressive effort at Clinton Raceway on Sunday to overcome Post 7 and score the fastest Grassroots victory of the matinee program.
Its A Fact Jack and driver Chris Christoforou landed in fifth spot as the gate swept away from the field of three-year-old trotting colts and sat well back of pacesetter Don Pellegrino through fractions of :30.4, :59.4 and 1:30. Heading for the three-quarter pole Christoforou sent the Yentls Image son three-wide around the faltering leaders and the gelding delivered a sharp finishing kick that propelled him to the 2:01 victory over Venture Capital and Mono Star.
Murray Waples owns and trains Its A Fact Jack, who boasts a record of one win and one third-place finish in two starts this season and has never finished worse than third in six lifetime starts.
One race later Port Elgin resident Ray McLean, Jr. piloted the first of two Grassroots winners. Leaving from Post 3 McLean engineered a classic pocket trip for Best Image, stalking pacesetter Navarin Hanover and then bursting out in the stretch to score the 2:04.1 victory.
The win was the second straight for Balanced Image son Best Image, who is trained by Brad Maxwell for Douglas Millard of Woodstock, Jerry VanBoekel of Bright and Christina Maxwell of Ayr.
McLean was back in the Clinton Raceway winner’s circle after Race 11 with longshot Allpleasurenglory. Taking a page from Christoforou’s book, McLean landed in fifth spot from Post 7 and was content to watch fan favourite Americanadian trot through fractions of :30.4, 1:01.2 and 1:32.3 before moving three-wide at the three-quarter pole.
As the colts powered up the stretch, Americanadian made an untimely break and Allpleasurenglory scooped up the 2:03 victory. Americanadian settled for second and King Anthony, owned by Catherine, George, Darcy and Dustin McClure of Clinton, earned the third-place finisher’s share of the $15,000 purse.
Robert Fellows trains Allpleasurenglory for Mississauga resident Paul Clark. The win was the Brylin Boyz son’s first in six attempts.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Zorgwijk Eagle in 2:03, Mr Bitter in 2:04, Musical Man 2:03.1, Trace Of Class in 2:02.3 and Earl Of Openwood in 2:01.1.
The three-year-old trotting colts make their third Grassroots start of the 2004 season at Hiawatha Horse Park on July 8. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Clinton Raceway on Canada Day, Thursday, July 1, with Grassroots action for the three-year-old trotting fillies.