DRESDEN, ON — Dresden Raceway wrapped up its 2003 season with an exceptional program on Sunday afternoon, highlighted by seven lightning fast miles by the three-year-old pacing colts.
Village Blitz opened the Grassroots action with a 1:57.1 score in the first division for trainer Bill Budd and owner C and I Siegel Racing Stables Ltd. of Brooklyn, NY. The Village Jiffy son and driver Reg Gassien battled hard for the early lead, set fractions of :27, :57.4 and 1:27 and then fought off a challenge from runner-up Malmo Boy before sprinting home to the three and a half length victory. Artic Premium rounded out the top three.
The win was Village Blitz’s second since joining the Grassroots ranks in August and moved him into contention for a berth in the Oct. 26 Grassroots Semifinal at Flamboro Downs.
Four races later Video Express matched Village Blitz’s 1:57.1 mile to score his first win in Grassroots action this season. The Rustler Hanover son and driver Jim McClure stalked pacesetter and fan favourite Sensational Rocket throughout the mile and then poured on the speed down the stretch to score a three and a half length victory. Sensational Rocket settled for second with Alexandras Top Hat pacing into third.
Trainer Gary Machiz of Clarksburg, NJ shares ownership on Video Express with Barry Rubenstein Farms of Port Washington, NY. The partners have banked $59,222 on behalf of their talented pacing colt this season.
McClure also piloted division leader Tigerama to a gritty front-end victory in Race 13. The Village Jiffy son took control of the race early and battled Gas Cam from the halfway marker to the top of the stretch where the challenger ran out of gas and Tigerama paced away to a two length 1:57 victory. Outrageous Luck delivered a steady performance to finish second while Jacks Dream ducked around the faltering Gas Cam to earn the third-place share of the $18,000 contest.
Robert Hamather of Exeter bred and owns Tigerama and Richard Griffiths handles conditioning duties on the consistent colt who has posted 10 wins, four seconds and one third in 17 starts this season.
Dream Rocket also delivered an impressive performance in the final Grassroots division, spending the entire mile hanging out on the outside, including a stint three-wide at the three-quarter pole, before burning up the stretch to a 1:57.2 victory. The Pacific Rocket son bested Bringhomethemoney by two and three-quarter lengths and Trinket Island by four and a quarter lengths.
Don McElroy piloted Dream Rocket to the win for trainer Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of La Salle, Dwight Stacey of Mitchell and Paul Ysebaert of Mooretown. The other divisions went to Allamerican Salute in 2:01.2, Twin B Mirage in 1:57.2 and Killean Sweep in 1:58.3.
The three-year-old pacing colts will have one last opportunity to collect Grassroots points at Kawartha Downs on Oct. 11 before the top 16 point earners head to Flamboro Downs for the Oct. 26 Semifinals.
The Ontario Sires Stakes program looks forward to returning to Dresden Raceway in 2004 with a fresh crop of performers eager to make their mark on the provincial stage.