CLINTON, ON — Local trainer Paul Taylor helped kick off Clinton Raceway’s 2005 season when fan favourite Putnam President claimed the fourth of 13 Grassroots divisions Friday evening.

Leaving from Post 3 with regular driver Trevor Henry in the race bike, Putnam President fired to the front and led the field of three-year-old pacing colts through fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29.2 en route to a two and one quarter length victory in 1:58.3.

Taylor trains Putnam President for Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein and the win was the Presidential Ball son’s fourth straight and seventh on a season that has seen him finish out of the top spot just once.

Kountry Kid earned the second-place share of the $15,000 Grassroots pie and Tymal Winsome overcame an early break in stride to claim the third-place finisher’s cheque for owners Audrey and Robert McKinley of Clinton and their son Dr. John McKinley’s 1443059 Ontario Inc. of Oldcastle.

Five races later trainer-driver Brent Belore and Twilight Baron rocketed around the Clinton half-mile to a 1:56.3 victory, hitting the wire more than six lengths up on Darwin Seelster and Red Hot Fame.

The win marked a personal best for the son of Rambaran through an eight race season that has seen him make two other appearances in the winners circle for Belore and owner-breeders G. and C. Stables of Mount Elgin.

Drivers Jim McClure and Reg Gassien each made two appearances in Clinton’s winner’s circle on Friday evening. McClure got off to a quick start with victories in the second and third divisions.

The Elmira resident teamed Most Happy One to his second 2005 Grassroots victory in Race 2, taking control of the race just before the halfway marker and cruising home to a 1:58.4 victory over Kentucky Rebel and favourite Stonebridge Fame. Chris Matthews trains Grinfromeartoear son Most Happy One for Jeff Bryan and Desmond Scott of Orangeville.

In Race 3 McClure fired Run Away Fame off the starting gate and the Apaches Fame son held on for a head victory at the wire, stopping the Clinton teletimer at 1:57.3. Gregg McNair trains Run Away Fame for owner-breeder Robert B. Chapple of Chatham.

Favourite Apache Rain Dance had to settle for second in the close finish, while Whitesand Hooligan was well back in third.

Gassien’s hot streak started in Race 8 when he piloted Master Chef to a 2:00 triumph for trainer Arthur Balson of Orono and his partner Gary Smith of Ennismore. Favourite Queenssuccessor finished second and Imitandthatsthat completed the triactor.

The Lindsay resident was back in front of the grandstand following a flawless drive aboard Jim Ainsworth trainee Major Seelster in Race 10. After sitting behind pacesetter and fan favourite Caviarandsoftmusic though the mile, Gassien and Major Seelster powered out of the pocket in the stretch and sprinted to a half length victory in 1:57.2. Caviarandsoftmusic was second and Classic Lightning was well back in third.

Sarnia resident Ainsworth shares ownership on Major Seelster, a son of Astreos, with William Boden of Vancouver, BC, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga and Rocknhorse Stables Canada of Sarnia.

The other divisions went to Wynnfield Scamp in 1:58.2, Armbro Carruthers in 1:57.4, Love Me Naut in 1:59.3, Cruisin To Fame in 1:57.1, Lincoln Parke in 1:58, Gothic Crusader in 1:57.3 and J M Hannibal in 1:57.4.

The three-year-old pacing colts go head-to-head in their third Grassroots event on July 15 at Quinte Raceway, while Ontario Sires Stakes action roars back into Clinton on Sunday, July 17 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old pacing colts.

For a complete list of results please go to:

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