WOODSTOCK, ON — Three-year-old pacing colt Mild Mannered shed his staid image at Woodstock Raceway on Thursday and laid down an impressive Grassroots victory in a smart 1:56.

Starting from the trailing Post 8, the Mach Three son got away fifth and was sitting five lengths off the pace when fan favourite Lyons Sign reached the opening quarter in :27.4. As the pace eased heading for the :57.3 half, driver Luc Ouellette sent Mild Mannered to the outside and by the 1:27 three-quarters the pair were looking Lyons Sign in the eye.

The colts battled fiercely around the final turn, but a strong finishing kick propelled Mild Mannered down the stretch to a one and a half length victory. Shortstacked finished three and a half lengths back in third.

Mark Steacy trains Mild Mannered for the Landmark Racing Stable of Elginburg and Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing of Campbell River, BC. The colt made his sophomore debut at the Gold Series level in May, finishing third in his elimination and fourth in the final at Rideau Carleton Raceway. Through eight starts this season the young pacer has logged five wins and one third for earnings of $41,950.

Last year’s leading reinsman in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, Brad Forward has jumped out to an early lead in the 2009 Lampman Cup race that was bolstered by a pair of victories on Thursday afternoon.

In the second $24,000 Grassroots division, Forward teamed up with Bob McIntosh trainee Layton Seelster and sailed around the Woodstock oval on cruise control. In spite of starting from Post 6, the fan favourites took control before the halfway marker and were eight and one-quarter lengths in front of their peers at the wire, stopping the Woodstock teletimer at 1:57.1.

Premium Bliss earned second-place honours, fending off a challenge from third-place finisher Roberto.

The win was Layton Seelster’s second straight in Grassroots action for Windsor resident McIntosh and his partner Dwight Stacey of Mitchell. With Forward in the race bike the Western Maverick gelding delivered an almost identical effort in the Grassroots season opener at Dresden Raceway on June 21. Starting from Post 4 at Dresden the pair were on top by the half and hit the wire eight and one-quarter lengths to the good in 1:57.2.

In eight lifetime starts Layton Seelster now has three wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $35,185.

Forward’s second appearance in front of the Woodstock photographer came after the ninth race. Starting from Post 5 with Sandra Spencer trainee St Lads Adonis, Forward went with a proven formula, firing the gelding to the front and sprinting home to a 1:58 victory. Allamerican Extra was one and a half lengths back in second, with In Shape five more lengths to the rear in third.

St Lads Adonis finished third in the Grassroots season opener and sports a record of four wins, one second and one third in nine sophomore starts for earnings of $34,114. Spencer trains the Western Terror son for breeders St Lads Farm of Ruscom Station.

In addition to Layton Seelster, Alexie Mattosie and Medoland Glenno were able to replicate their winning efforts from the Grassroots season opener. No Pan Intended son Alexie Mattosie scored a come from behind victory from Post 7 in the third race, hitting the wire a quarter length ahead of Regil King and Silver Sunset in 1:57.4. Phil Hudon engineered the win for trainer Matthew Dupuis and owners Hardy Mill Stable of Beaver Bank, NS and GLB Stable of Lakeview, NS.

Medoland Glenno stalked pacesetter Uncle Bill Mac in the fourth race before sprinting down the stretch to steal the 1:56.4 victory. Little Man, owned and trained by Brian Lee of Woodstock, finished third.

Ruairi McNulty of Puslinch owns Western Maverick son Medoland Glenno, entrusting the gelding’s day-to-day care to trainer Meg Crone and his race day handling to driver Anthony Haughan.

The other Grassroots divisions were captured by Lexis Star in 1:56.3; Village Bistro in 1:57.2; St Lads He Man in 1:56.3; and Western Heart in 1:57.4. The three-year-old pacing colts make the third stop on their Grassroots schedule at Clinton Raceway on Aug. 2.

On Saturday, Aug. 8, Woodstock Raceway fans will be treated to Grassroots action by the talented three-year-old trotting fillies, making their third stop on a six event tour.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0707wodskn.dat.