SUDBURY, ON — Balmy summer weather brought high speed performances to Sudbury Downs on Saturday night, as all three two-year-old pacing colt Grassroots divisions were clocked faster than 2:00.

Each successive $24,000 division rang up a faster clocking, until Lil Bit Lil Bit rewrote the track’s freshman pacing colt record in the final division with a 1:57.1 effort.

Starting from Post 6, driver Mike MacNeill settled the colt in third on the rail as Cheyenne Oxe roared out to a :27.3 opening quarter. Warrawee Lad pressed the pace early and had taken command of the lead well before the :57.1 half.

Heading down the backstretch the second time MacNeill sent Lil Bit Lil Bit up the outside and the pair were peering over Warrawee Lad’s shoulder by the 1:27.2 three-quarters. Turning for home Lil Bit Lil Bit had a half length on his rivals and paced home strongly to secure the one length victory.

Cheyenne Oxe earned the second-place finisher’s share, while Warrawee Lad faded to finish third, seven lengths behind the leaders.

Andrew Deleersnyder trains Lil Bit Lil Bit for Steven Deleersnyder of Windsor, who paid just $800 for the youngster at last year’s Fall Mixed Sale. Through five starts the Rambaran son now boasts a record of two wins, one second and one third for earnings of $16,280.

Lil Bit Lil Bit made his second lifetime start in the Grassroots season opener, finishing seventh to Warrawee Lad in a 1:55.2 mile at Flamboro Downs, and currently has 50 points in the race for one of 16 post season berths.

The other two Grassroots divisions went to trainer-driver Joe Hudon, who piloted Haul Away to a 1:59.3 triumph in the first split, and Raging Grin to a 1:58 victory in the second.

Haul Away started from Post 1 and controlled the race from start to finish, sailing across the wire six lengths ahead of Eagle Artesian and Steel Angel. The win was the second lifetime for the Modern Art gelding, who finished fourth in the July 17 Grassroots division at Flamboro won by Warrawee Lad.

Acton resident Hudon also bred Haul Away, and shares ownership on the youngster with his wife Karen Hudon.

In the second Grassroots division, fan favourite Raging Grin got a perfect pocket trip behind pacesetter Brusiers Brother, who rolled through fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:28.3 before being reeled in by the chase group. Muscling his way to the front around the final turn, Raging Grin powered down the stretch to a four length victory over Modern Valentine and Four JS Rustler.

Hudon shares ownership on Raging Grin with breeder Margaret Payne of St. Augustine, FL. Saturday’s effort was the Grinfromeartoear son’s second straight appearance in the winner’s circle; he also captured the Battle of Waterloo Consolation at Grand River Raceway on Aug. 3.

Second in his career debut in a July 10 overnight event at Flamboro Downs, Raging Grin finished third in his division of the Grassroots season opener at Flamboro, and third in his Battle of Waterloo Elimination. Through five starts the colt has now earned $34,760.

The freshman pacing colts make the third Grassroots stop on their 2009 schedule at Grand River Raceway on Sept. 7. Sudbury Downs fans have to wait until Saturday, Sept. 19 for their last dose of Ontario Sires Stakes speed, welcoming the two-year-old pacing fillies to the northern oval for Grassroots action.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0815sudbyn.dat.