SUDBURY, ON — In spite of a chill in the northern air, and a track rated one second slower than normal, T Js Mr Lavec managed to rocket around the Sudbury Downs oval on Wednesday evening and launch himself into the thick of the three-year-old trotting colt Grassroots point race.

With leading Ontario Sires Stakes driver Trevor Henry at the helm, T Js Mr Lavec wasted no time telegraphing his intentions to the fourth race field. The Mr Lavec son fired out of Post 1 and led the field through fractions of :30, 1:01 and 1:31.3 before pulling away in the last quarter to a four length victory in a smart 2:00.3.

The fan favourite bested My Rebelious Ways and division leader Catch My Korvette to record his second Grassroots victory in three tries and boost his point total to 100.

Wayne Henry trains T Js Mr Lavec for his brother Trevor Henry of Arthur and James Laverty of Sauble Beach. The homebred trotter opened his sophomore season in the Gold Series, but dropped down to the Grassroots in time for the third event on Aug. 11 at Hiawatha Horse Park. Interfered with early, T Js Mr Lavec settled for an eighth place finish in his Grassroots debut, but bounced back with a commanding victory in the Aug. 31 event at Grand River Raceway.

Driver Mike Saftic made the trip to Sudbury Downs for Wednesday’s Grassroots program and notched two more wins in his already extensive win column. The Campbellville resident guided Free To Dance to an impressive six length victory in the first $21,043 Grassroots division for trainer Gregg McNair, and then climbed aboard David Holiday trainee Summerhill Duke for a one length score in the third split.

Leaving from Post 6, Free To Dance cruised around the Sudbury half-mile to an effortless 2:01.2 personal best. Lonely Bay was well back in second and King Clifford recovered from a break at the halfway point to finish third.

Lynne Bowen of London owns the Eager Seelster son, who has two wins, one second and two thirds to his credit through the first five regular season Grassroots events for a total of 149 points and sole ownership of fourth spot in the division standings.

Three races later Saftic adopted a different strategy with Summerhill Duke, stalking pacesetter Frosty The Genius through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.2 and 1:31.1, then stepping out around the final turn to grab the 2:02 victory over Snappy In Red and a fast closing Koekemoer.

David Holliday of Mount Forest trains and shares ownership on Summerhill Duke with his sons Ryan and Ben Holliday, also of Mount Forest. The chestnut son of Duke Of York bounced into a tie for fifth in the point race with the win, his second in Grassroots action this season.

Konchie picked up his third straight Grassroots trophy with a 2:01.1 victory over Packin and Mr Pozefsky in the seventh race. The King Conch son, owned by trainer David Byron of Thornton, Charles Byron and Sit N Go Stables of Barrie, and James Cantelon of Thornton, has been flawless in three Grassroots starts this season and currently sits tied for second with a perfect 150 points.

The last Grassroots split went to Ja El Blue Bayou, who posted the biggest upset of the five divisions with his gate-to-wire 2:01.4 effort. The Balanced Image gelding and Richard Turcotte held off Al The Pal and Blaze Of Sonshine for the three-quarter length win, leaving favourite Think Gold to settle for fourth spot.

Trained by Richard Moreau for Dobe Stable of Rideau Ferry, Ja El Blue Bayou now has two wins and one third to his credit in three provincial starts and sits tenth in the race for one of 16 spots in the Oct. 18 Grassroots Semifinal at Kawartha Downs.

The Ontario Sires Stakes program makes one last stop at Sudbury Downs on Saturday, Sept. 29 when the exciting two-year-old pacing colts converge on the northern oval for their second last Grassroots event.

For complete results please go to:

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