ELORA, ON — Moonstrosity got the Grassroots event at Grand River Raceway off to a quick start on Monday night, cruising around the half-mile oval in 1:56.4 in the opening division.
In rein to trainer-driver Lyle MacArthur, the three-year-old pacing colt took full advantage of Post 1 and controlled the pace from start to finish. The Astreos son logged fractions of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.1 and then fought off favourite Cruisin To Fame to score the quarter length victory. Fast Factor was one and a half lengths back in third.
Princeton resident MacArthur shares ownership on Moonstrosity with breeder David San Lorenzo of Grand Island, NY.
Four races later Queenssuccessor matched Moonstrosity’s time, but used different tactics. The Presidential Ball son and trainer-driver Murray Brethour stalked pacesetter Armbro Cougar and then sprinted by in the final quarter to score the 1:56.4 triumph by seven and a quarter lengths. Armbro Cougar finished second, but was disqualified for leaving the course, moving Fastest Rustler and Freddy The Rustler into the second and third-place spots.
Melvyn and Catherine Varcoe of Thornton own the homebred colt, who now boasts two straight victories.
Armbro Cougar was not the only horse disqualified on Monday’s program. Grand River fans held their breath in Race 4 when Canadian Rye made a break at the quarter mile marker and caused a chain reaction behind him that resulted in four horses falling and two drivers being transported to Groves Memorial Hospital in Fergus. All four horses were able to leave the racetrack under their own steam, but Don McElroy suffered a broken wrist and was being examined to rule out further arm injuries and Dan Clements was being treated for thoracic injuries.
Putnam President, Classic Lightning and Fun Factor were the only horses able to complete the 1:57 race.
Between Races 6 and 7 track conditions deteriorated from fast to sloppy, with a rating two seconds slower than normal. As a result the remaining divisions were clocked in slightly slower times, with the exception of Back It Up’s 1:57 victory over Love Me Naut and Jagged Heart in the tenth race.
Even more impressive was the fact that the Northern Luck son spent much of the race sitting on the outside, not clearing to the front until after the three-quarter mile marker.
Noreen Paulin trains the colt for Rick Howles of Lake Orion, MI.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Master Chef in 1:57, Northern Pacific in 1:57.1, Twin B Krave in 1:59.4, Most Happy One in 1:57.2, Bo Flex in 1:58.1, Apaches Rain Dance in 1:58.1 and The Thief in 1:59.2.
The sophomore pacing colts return to Grassroots action on July 1 at Clinton Raceway, while Grand River Raceway hosts its second Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots event — for the three-year-old pacing fillies — Friday, June 17.