CLINTON, ON — Driver Paul Mackenzie scored a pair of wins in Grassroots action at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon, steering three-year-old trotting colts St Patricks Gold and Earls Song to wins in the final regular season Grassroots event of their careers.
Kicking off the Ontario Sires Stakes excitement in Race 3, Mackenzie and St Patricks Gold tailed pacesetter Carrland Buddy around the half-mile oval and then sprinted down the stretch to snatch a half-length victory away from the two-time Gold Final winner. St Patricks Gold stopped the clock at 2:02.1, the fastest of the four Grassroots divisions, and moved to the top of the division point standings with the win.
Mackenzie also trains the Brisco Hanover son for S S G Stables of North Boston, NY, and has conditioned the trotter to six wins, three seconds and one third in 14 starts this season for total earnings of $64,615.
Carrland Buddy, owned by the Smart Cat Stable of Elmira, which includes Clinton’s Jack and Nancy Holmes, and third-place finisher Muskoka Connection also secured their berths in the Oct. 27 Grassroots Semifinal at Windsor Raceway.
Mackenzie was back in the winner’s circle after Race 4 following an impressive performance by Earls Song. The Earl son fired out of Post 4 and led the field through fractions of :31.1, 1:03.1 and 1:33 before fighting off Jetset Matt down the stretch to score the 2:02.2 victory by a neck. Fan favourite Total Mayhem finished just over a length back in third.
Rob Oliver trains Earls Song for breeder Earl Ash, Ronald Ash and Michael Lang of Desboro. In five Grassroots starts this season Earls Song recorded two wins and two fifth-place finishes for a total of 110 points and a spot among the 16 colts who will advance to post season play.
“Mr. OSS” Dave Wall and Oaklea Kramer captured the third Grassroots division with a two and a half length 2:06.1 decision over Shelmickedmu and Creigmeister. Dan Creighton of Strathroy trains the Balanced Image son for his partners in the Danterra Racing Stable.
The final division went to local favourite Royal King Pin, who romped to a nine length win in 2:05.2 for the Smart Cat Stable. Movin Royal and Grand Galaxy rounded out the top three.
In addition to Jack and Nancy Holmes of Clinton, the Smart Cats are Dennis and Janet Fairall of Windsor, Spero Mavrou of Islington, Tom Cousineau of Elmira and trainer-driver George Zirnis of Elmira. The group will be heading to Windsor Raceway on Oct. 27 as both of their sophomore trotting colts, and Zirnis’s other starter Total Mayhem, qualified for the Grasroots Semifinal.
Clinton Raceway brings its Ontario Sires Stakes season to a close next weekend with Grassroots competition for the exciting two-year-old pacing fillies.