DUNDAS, ON — Think Gold delivered his second Grassroots victory of the season at Flamboro Downs on Thursday evening to lock up a berth in the lucrative post season.
Paul Mackenzie piloted the Mr Lavec son to the 1:58.1 triumph, which saw Think Gold do all the work on the front end and dig in through the stretch to hold off Chuckie Lang by a head. Fan favourite Ja El Blue Bayou was just a quarter length back in third.
Joe Stutzman trains Think Gold for his partners in Harness The Power Canada of Campbellville, Danny Petsanis of Singhampton, Dino Ruffa of Mississauga and Greg Vidic of Alliston. Through four Grassroots starts the gelding scored two wins, one second and one fourth for a total of 133 points and eighth spot in the division point standings.
The second Grassroots division also featured a nail biting finish as King Of Song circled out three-wide at the three-quarters and then stormed down the stretch to collar favourite Keystone Saint by a head. Free To Dance finished two lengths behind the leaders in the 1:59.1 mile.
Chris Christoforou Sr. of Campbellville bred and owns King Of Song with William Jones of Lexington, KY. Thursday’s outing was the King Conch son’s first appearance in the Ontario Sires Stakes program this year, and his second straight appearance in the Flamboro Downs winner’s circle.
Driver Mike Saftic and trainer Gregg McNair partnered on back-to-back Grassroots winners, Kens On Lavec in Race 7 and Blaze Of Sonshine in Race 8. Saftic and Kens On Lavec actually finished a nose back of Packin in the third Grassroots split, but inherited the 1:57.4 victory when the leader was disqualified for leaving the racecourse.
Christoforou trainee Australian Stock was promoted from third to second and Ernie B Earnest was elevated from fourth to third.
Kenneth Sommer of Sheffield, OH bred and owns Kens On Lavec, who wrapped up his regular season one point behind Think Gold in the Grassroots standings.
As the fog rolled in over the Dundas oval, Blaze Of Sonshine stepped off a commanding two and three-quarter length victory in a personal best 1:58.4. Koekemoer emerged from the haze in second, while Heir To The Throne edged out fan favourite Catch My Korvette for third, ten lengths behind the leader.
Guelph resident McNair and his mother Gwendolyn McNair of Walkerton bred and own Blaze Of Sonshine. The Son Of Grace gelding wrapped up his regular season Grassroots campaign in a three-way tie for second with 175 points — earned through three wins, one third, one fourth and one fifth.
The other two Grassroots divisions went to Keystone Empire in 1:59.3 and Stonebridge Spirit in 1:58.2.
The top 16 point earners will now begin preparations for the Oct. 18 Semifinals, with the top four finishers from the Semifinal round earning a berth in the $100,000 Grassroots Championship at Kawartha Downs on Oct. 27.
Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at Flamboro Downs next Wednesday, Oct. 10 when the two-year-old trotting fillies will wrap up their Grassroots regular season.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rflmdth.html