BELLEVILLE, ON — Bringhomethemoney did just that on Monday when he captured the first of five Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing colts at Quinte Raceway.
The Bo Knows Jate son and trainer-driver Peter Core sat third throughout the mile and then accelerated by Dream Rocket and Armbro Aviator to score the 2:02.1 victory by a head. Armbro Aviator stepped into second-place and pacesetter Dream Rocket had to settle for third.
Wyoming resident Core shares ownership on Bringhomethemoney with Bri Pat Investments Ltd. of Forest, Raymond Core of Wyoming and Ronald Bailey of St. Marys.
Tommys Luck and Don McElroy posted the fastest win of the Grassroots divisions with a wire-to-wire 2:01.3 score in the sixth race. Last year’s Johnston Cup winning trainer Bob McIntosh trains Tommys Luck for Californian John Liviakis, who also bred the son of Camluck and Armbro Nectarine.
Local favourite Emersons Aah Jewel and driver Mark Megens picked up the second-place finisher’s share for owner-breeder Len Kordy of Picton, and Thomas Killean also closed well to be third.
McElroy and McIntosh also came close to the winner’s circle in Race 3 when the top three colts battled tooth and nail down the stretch to finish within a neck of each other. Buffalo Wings and Jody Jamieson prevailed, Excel Seelster and Ray McLean, Jr. snagged the second-place cheque and McElroy and Jimmy Crack Cohen were left with the third-place share in the 2:03.1 mile.
Trainer Brian Rickard and William Carrothers of Woodstock own Buffalo Wings, whose three earlier starts stood him in good stead against his less experienced peers.
The fifth race on the Canada Day matinee also featured a flag waving finish as M U Stradaverius circled the field to score a half length victory in 2:02. Quinte regular Ted MacDonald settled the colt at the back of the field through opening fractions of :29.4 and 1:00.2 and then put him into gear heading for the 1:30.4 three-quarters. As the colts turned for home M U Stradaverius was just over two lengths back in third and MacDonald was reaching for the turbo button that propelled them by pacesetter Apaches Champ and Artic Premium.
Trainer and breeder Marcel Bouvier of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC shares ownership on the talented Cam Terrific son with numbered company 9110 2071 Quebec Inc. of St. Leonard.
The final division went to Ajprestige in 2:04.4 thanks to a crafty drive by veteran horseman Eli Wagler. Wagler tucked the Albert Albert son on the rail behind leader Spare Time Scout and then popped out in the lane to get up for the narrow victory. Cool Native paced under the wire five lengths behind the top two for third-place honours.
Trainer and breeder Adrian Dimmers and Janny Dimmers of Ingersoll own Ajprestige, who banked $10,902 with the win.
The two-year-old pacing colts make their next Grassroots start on July 13 at Hanover Raceway. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Quinte Raceway on the next two holiday Mondays, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2 with Grassroots competition for the two-year-old trotting colts and three-year-old pacing fillies.