ELMIRA, ON — Rye N Water proved himself to Guelph resident Keith Waples by capturing a three-year-old pacing colt Grassroots division at Elmira Raceway on Monday evening.
The Pacific Rocket colt romped to a 1:58 victory in the third race to earn himself $7,500 and a spot on the Grassroots tour this summer. Hall of Fame horseman Waples shares ownership on Rye N Water with Charles Muylaert of Nobleton and the partners were impressed with the way driver Randy Fritz and Rye N Water disposed of the field of more experienced Ontario Sires Stakes competitors.
Leaving from Post 5 Fritz and Rye N Water fired straight to the front and led the field through fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:28.3 en route to the two and a half length victory over Broadway Time and The Cammissioner. It was the colt’s second straight win and shaved one-fifth of a second off his personal best time.
The fastest mile of the 11 Grassroots divisions was recorded by driver Don McElroy and Im A Camedian in Race 9. The Camluck colt stopped the clock in 1:57.4 to score his third straight victory and improve his 2002 record to five wins, one second and two thirds in 11 starts.
Trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, his brother Al of Leamington and Dwight Stacey of Mitchell own Im A Camedian, who pushed his earnings to $46,955 with the win over Mcmac and Armbro Wallstreet.
McIntosh and McElroy gave Elmira fans a glimpse of the success that earned them the top Trainer and Driver awards in the 2001 Ontario Sires Stakes season when they also visited the winner’s circle with Watering Cam in Race 5.
Another son of Camluck, Watering Cam hit the wire in 1:59.3 off a wire-to-wire effort. Owned by McIntosh and CSX Stables of Liberty Center, OH, Watering Cam is a newcomer to the OSS program this season after making just one start at two. Blue Hot Poker and Red Star Bigosh rounded out the top three in the fifth race.
McElroy made it a driving hat trick with an impressive 1:58.1 victory aboard Armbro Warranty in the tenth race. Fred Logan of Dutton trains Armbro Warranty for his partners Petrina and Helen May Lawrence of Madison Heights, MI and Ronald Lesky of Hazel Park, MI. Rudy Cruz and Run Tim Run finished behind Armbro Warranty.
The other divisions went to Gaelic Force in 1:58.3, Cam Bo Informal in 1:59.3, Fishin Luck in 1:58.3, Reel Missle in 1:59.1, Big Louie in 1:59.4, Great As Gretz in 1:59.3 and Corona Grande in 1:58.3.
The impressive three-year-old pacing colts take their Grassroots show to Hanover Raceway on June 29, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Elmira Raceway on Friday, June 7 with a Trillium Series event for the three-year-old pacing fillies.