DUNDAS, ON — Two-year-old trotter Jack Man has two starts under his belt heading into Sunday’s Grassroots contest at Flamboro Downs and trainer Wayne Langille says that, so far, the Angus Hall son is holding his own.
“He’s not a bad colt. He’s been holding his own his first two starts,” says the Harley resident, who shares ownership on Jack Man with Arthur Quintanilha of Millgrove. “He’s a nice colt, we hope to have some luck Sunday.”
Although Jack Man and driver Gord Rayner will start from Post 6 in the second $33,578 Grassroots division, the gelding’s familiarity with the Flamboro half-mile may give him an edge over some of his peers. The half-brother to $484,361 winner Macman qualified twice at Flamboro Downs in June and made his first start over the Dundas oval in a division of the Flamboro Breeders Stake.
Starting from Post 7 in the July 4 Flamboro Breeders contest, Jack Man delivered a steady effort that landed him in third-place behind a pair of colts that went on to top finishes in the season opening Gold Series. Jack Man kicked off his provincial career in the Grassroots season opener at Dresden Raceway on July 22, where he finished second after carving all the fractions in a 2:06 mile.
“Gordie (Rayner) drove him, and said he got a little lost at Dresden finishing,” notes Langille. “We don’t cut too many miles here with young horses. We like them to follow the older horses.”
The first Angus Hall foal from mare Azucar Katie, Jack Man was a $17,000 yearling at last fall’s Forest City Sale. Langille liked the young trotter’s breeding and was quickly impressed with Jack Man’s ability.
“He’s got half-decent breeding — the same dam as Macman — that’s kind of the reason I was looking at him,” recalls the veteran horseman. “And he looked like he was a trotter right from the start. I don’t know if he’ll be a world beater, but I think he’s going to be a nice horse.”
Jack Man and Rayner will face off against a field of seven on Sunday, which includes three winners from the Grassroots season opener. Actifate Loral gets Post 3 and a pair of colts from the Wayne Henry stable, Maples Lucky Boy and Norwell Incredable, will start from Posts 4 and 7.
Originally slated for Sudbury Downs, Sunday’s event was moved to Flamboro Downs due to uncertainty around labour negotiations at the province’s northernmost oval.
Post time for Flamboro Downs’ bonus card of Ontario Sires Stakes action is 6 pm, and the two-year-old trotting colts will entertain the Sunday evening crowd in Races 2, 4, and 6.
For complete entries please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/eflmdsu.html