WOODSTOCK, ON — Snap Out Of It scored his third straight Grassroots victory and equalled the track record in Ontario Sires Stakes action at Woodstock Raceway on Saturday.

The Camluck colt and driver Reg Gassien eased out of Post 6 and landed fourth as Goforyourgrins and favourite Clean Cut Kid let the field of two-year-old pacing colts through fractions of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:27.4. Heading toward the three-quarters Gassien sent Snap Out Of It after the leaders and the colt moved into second and started to reel in pacesetter Clean Cut Kid.

Down the stretch the young pacers battled tooth and nail, but Snap Out Of It prevailed by a head to claim the 1:57.4 victory, equalling the track record set by Corona Grande in 2001. J M Albert was 18 lengths behind the leaders in third.

Lindsay resident Gassien shares ownership on Snap Out Of It with trainer Jim Ainsworth of Sarnia, Claude Pearson of Tilbury and William Boden of Vancouver, BC. Through six starts the colt, a $29,000 yearling acquisition, boasts a record of three wins and one second for earnings of $28,050.

With a total of 158 points, Snap Out Of It sits second in the race for a berth in the Grassroots Semifinal, behind the flawless Acceptable Risk, who captured his fourth win in Saturday’s seventh race.

From Post 2 Acceptable Risk and driver Randy Fritz powered straight to the front and never faced a serious challenge until Sudburysatrdaynite and Stephen Byron took a run at them down the stretch. Although Sudburysatrdaynite fought hard, Acceptable Risk prevailed by a half a length to record the 1:59.2 score. Back To Back Jack picked up the third-place cheque in the $15,000 contest.

Dan Morrissey trains Acceptable Risk for David Morrissey of Ailsa Craig and Daniel McCann and William Woodburn of Parkhill. Through six starts the Intrepid Seelster son’s only loss came in an Aug. 8 overnight at Mohawk Racetrack that saw him finish fourth in a 1:53.4 mile.

Driver Ray McLean, Jr. picked up a trio of Grassroots wins at Woodstock on Saturday, capturing the third, eighth and eleventh races.

The Port Elgin resident opened his driving hat trick with a wire-to-wire 1:59.1 score aboard Ancient Highway. The win was the Presidential Ball son’s second of the season and his first in Grassroots action. Combined with two third-place finishes the win bumped Ancient Highway into the top 16 with a total of 74 points.

Trainer Randy Van Meer and Brian Evans of Bowmanville share ownership on Ancient Highway, who was a $32,000 purchase at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale.

McLean made his second appearance in the Woodstock winner’s circle with first time Grassroots starter C J Rambler, who cruised to a three-quarter length triumph over So Hot and Wingandaprayer in 1:58.

Roger Schoonjans trains the Rambaran son for owner and breeder Cindy Charlebois of Fergus. The colt made his debut at Hanover Raceway on Aug. 27, cruising to a 2:04.4 seven and three-quarter length triumph over a sloppy track rated four seconds slower than normal.

McLean capped the driving hat trick with the assistance of Bud Sinclair trainee Underground King, who stalked pacesetter Taylorlane Cruiser throughout the mile before powering down the stretch to a one and one-quarter length victory in 1:58. Taylorlane Cruiser settled for second after doing all the work and King Joe finished 11 lengths back in third.

Dr. Norman Amos of St. Marys, Bill Elliott of Thorndale and Murray Neilson of London share ownership on Underground King, a son of Apaches Fame who boasts a record of two wins, four seconds and one third through nine starts and currently sits third in the Grassroots standings with 150 points.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Sauble Justy in 1:59.4, Winbak Island in 1:58.3, Danny Shirlton in 2:00.2 and Mythic Voyage in 1:58.

Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing colts return to Grassroots action at Georgian Downs on Sept. 17, getting a preview of the track where the top 16 will compete in post season action Oct. 8 and 15.

Saturday’s action wrapped up Woodstock Raceway’s 2005 Ontario Sires Stakes season, but harness racing fans can look forward to the 2006 edition of the program returning to the half-mile oval with a fresh crop of young trotters and pacers eager to prove their mettle on the provincial stage.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwodsksa.html