WOODSTOCK — The thermometer may have read 12 degrees Celsius Saturday afternoon, but things were significantly warmer at Woodstock Raceway where 12 divisions of Ontario-sired three-year-old pacing colts fired around the half-mile oval in track record time.
Directive’s 1992 record was lowered for the first time in Race 6 when Kuche and driver Randy Waples hit the wire in 1:56.1, taking three seconds off the long-standing speed mark. Sent off the heavy favourite by savvy Woodstock fans Kuche led wire-to-wire, finishing the mile six lengths ahead of The Circles End and St Lads Mak.
Bill Robinson, last year’s O’Brien award winner as the top trainer in Canada, trains the Dexter Nukes son for Joan Agro of Dundas. The win was the colt’s second of the season in three starts.
Four races later the record fell for a second time as Phil Hudon and Tigerama duplicated the front-end strategy and stopped the teletimer at 1:55.4, one length ahead of Twin B Kingpin and 19 ahead of third-place finisher Bringhomethemoney, owned by Bri Pat Investments of Forest, Peter Core and Raymond Core of Wyoming and Ronald Bailey of St. Marys.
The victory extended Tigerama’s 2003 win streak to three races and established him as one of the colts to watch in the Grassroots Series this season. Richard Griffiths trains the talented Village Jiffy son for breeder Robert Hamather of Exeter.
Not to be outdone, Allamerican Salute used his inside post position to maximum advantage in Race 11 and posted a 13 length victory in a record equalling 1:55.4 time. David Boughton engineered the Rustler Hanover son’s victory for trainer Robert Young and owners Raymond Kwok of North York and Stan Klemencic of Trenton. St Lads Rookie and Pinstripe Poker finished in a heated battle for the second and third-place finisher’s share of the $18,000 purse.
Unlike his record setting peers, Excel Seelster was not sent off as the favourite in the eighth race, but the Dexter Nukes son benefited from a picture perfect steer from Trevor Henry to post his third win of the year for owner Dr. Norman Amos of St. Marys and trainer Bud Sinclair.
Henry and Excel Seelster stalked the pace throughout the mile and then sprinted to the lead down the stretch as pacesetter Treboh Kyle interfered with challenger Freds Good Friday, causing Freds Good Friday to move into the runner-up spot and Treboh Kyle to be demoted to third.
Excel Seelster returned $19.20, $5.00 and $2.10 for his winning effort, but his upset performance was far from the biggest pay out of the afternoon. When Greg Wright, Jr. and Apaches Champ squeaked out a win over Twin B Mirage and Artic Premium in Race 12, the Apaches Fame colt’s supporters received a cool $131.90 for their faith. The Gregg McNair trainee was so lightly rated that no place money was wagered on him and he returned $5.00 to show.
It was the first win of the season for Apaches Champ, who earned $23,050 in Ontario Sires Stakes action at two for owner Robert Chapple of Chatham.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Kurt Rustler in 1:58.1, Thomas Killean in 1:58.3, Winning Breed in 1:57, Trinket Island in 1:58.1, Cool Native in 1:57, Malmo Boy in 1:56.4 and Vijay Rocket in 1:57.2.
The three-year-old pacing colts continue their pursuit of Grassroots glory at Elmira Raceway on June 30. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Woodstock Raceway on Saturday, June 28 with Trillium Series action for the talented three-year-old trotting fillies.