ELORA, ON — Grand River Raceway hosts its first Ontario Sires Stakes event of the season on Monday evening and trainer Gregg McNair has his string of three-year-old pacing colts ready to rumble in their Grassroots season opener.

With starters in five of the 11 divisions, McNair is hopeful that at least one of his pupils will find their way to the winner’s circle and topping his list is former Gold Series competitor Fastest Rustler.

“That track owes us some money,” says the Guelph resident. “We supplemented him into the Battle Of Waterloo last year and he made a break in the elimination and was sick for the Consolation. He hasn’t had any luck over there for sure.”

Owned by Paul Barkley of Morrisburg, the Rustler Hanover son earned $85,870 competing in the Gold Series last season and makes his 2005 provincial debut from Post 9 in the fifth race Monday.

“He didn’t see a Grassroots last year. He was the best of the bunch we had,” notes McNair. “But he has taken a little longer to come back than I thought he would. I couldn’t get him ready in time for the (May 7) Gold.”

While Fastest Rustler’s resume is the most impressive of McNair’s entries, stablemate Jans Cam has looked the sharpest through recent weeks.

“He trained back better than any of the other ones did,” says the trainer. “I don’t know if that means anything or not, we’ll know better in a month.”

After a 1:55.3 qualifying win at Mohawk Racetrack on May 3, Jans Cam posted a fourth-place finish in a May 14 overnight event at Georgian Downs, sprinting to a :27.2 last quarter over a track rated two seconds slower than normal.

“He’s always been a bit of a speed horse, but he had a little trouble carrying it,” says McNair. “He drew outside at Georgian Downs so we raced him from the back. He was a block behind at the quarter pole, but he finished up pretty good.”

McNair shares ownership on the Camluck son, who will start from Post 1 in Race 9, with Gordon Mason of Orangeville, Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke and George Kerr of Gowanstown.

The trainer will also send out a pair of Apaches Fame sons for Robert B. Chapple of Chatham, Red Hot Fame from Post 4 in the first race and Run Away Fame from Post 5 in Race 2. His final starter is Classic Lightning, who heads into Race 4 off a 1:58.1 victory at Flamboro Downs on May 12.

“He has shown a bit of speed at times,” says McNair of the Falcons Future colt, owned by breeder Daniel Black of Orangeville. “He won his last start at Flamboro so size of track doesn’t bother him.”

Classic Lightning will make his bid for Grassroots glory from Post 2.

The first 11 races on Grand River Raceway’s Victoria Day program feature the three-year-old pacing colts, who are competing for a total of $165,000. Race 1 parades on to the half-mile oval at 7:30 pm Monday evening.