WINDSOR, ON — Su Lavec has made a career of beating the odds, so when the three-year-old trotting colts arrive at Windsor Raceway on Sunday night for their second Grassroots event, trainer Normand Dessureault expects another strong performance from the gelding in spite of the tough field he will line up against in the third race.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed, let’s put it that way,” says the Maidstone resident, who shares ownership on Su Lavec with Daniel Durfy of Ypsilanti, MI. “So far we are looking forward to another good year. He got bigger, stronger and more mature than he was last year.”

The trotter’s habit of beating the odds started when he was born with a set of crooked hind legs that required six weeks in cast and left Dessureault and Durfy wondering if he would ever walk straight, never mind race. However, when the son of Mr Lavec and Bostonian Sue entered training as a yearling he quickly demonstrated the old adage that �pretty is as pretty does.’ Dessureault was impressed with the young trotter’s talent and determination, and continued to be impressed as Su Lavec went on to post a record of two wins, three seconds and four thirds in 10 starts as a two-year-old, missing the Grassroots Championship title by a mere head.

This season the gelding seems to have bounced right back to his freshman form, finishing third in a division of the season opening Grassroots at Dresden Raceway on May 28 and posting one second, one third and one fourth against older company in three overnight events.

“He raced well in Dresden,” notes Dessureault. “He got a little roughed up, but he still held on for third.

“We are hoping for the best this year. Keeping him sound and keeping him healthy is the main thing, that way we can make some money, because the horse has talent,” he adds. “I’m not greedy, I don’t want all of it, but I’d like to get our share.”

Su Lavec will make his second Grassroots appearance of the season from Post 5 in the third race on Windsor’s Sunday evening program, and the field is waist deep in talent. Six of the other contenders also made their sophomore provincial debut at Dresden, and none of them finished worse than fourth in their divisions. Zorgwijk Graduate (Post 2) and Starsel (Post 6) were both winners at Dresden, with Starsel setting a 1:59.3 track record, and it is the track record holder that Dessureault will be watching out for on Sunday.

“The five-hole, I’m happy with that because Starsel drew outside of me,” he notes. “I’ve got good gate speed and he’s got good gate speed, so hopefully I can sit in the two-hole instead of in the seven-hole. He’s not a bad horse to follow.”

However, if things do not go according to plan, Dessureault is confident that Su Lavec’s versatility will stand him in good stead.

“He can pretty much race on every kind of track and from every kind of trip,” says the horseman, “Front end, back end — it makes him a pretty handy colt.”

Su Lavec and his peers kick off the Grassroots battles at Windsor Raceway in the third race, with the other six $15,000 divisions going postward in Races 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11. Sunday’s first race rolls in behind the starting gate at 7 pm.

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