CLINTON, ON — It was a tough afternoon for favourites at Clinton Raceway on Sunday, as only two of the fans’ top choices delivered in six Grassroots divisions.
Among the favourites who failed to make their presence felt was division leader Tyrone Dillon, whose break in the early going of the first race left the door wide open for Armbro Acme and Tom Strauss. The pair took advantage of the favourite’s error and made a quick move to the front from Post 2, never relinquishing control en route to the 2:03.2 victory. Speedy Ross trotted home three lengths back in second and Fact B rounded out the top three.
Strauss drives and trains three-year-old trotting colt Armbro Acme for Adventure Acres Limited of Campbellville. The Balanced Image youngster was making his 2003 debut, and added $9,000 in Grassroots purse money to the $107,335 he earned competing in the Gold Series at two.
Strauss also waved to Clinton fans from the winner’s circle after piloting Diamond Turk to an upset over heavy favourite Snoops Bytes in Race 10. While Tara Ballyduff and Seven Habits fought for the lead Strauss was content to watch from fourth through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30.3. When the pacesetters tired down the stretch Strauss flipped the power switch on Diamond Turk and the Wesgate Crown son outsprinted Snoops Bytes to the wire to score the half-length win in 2:02.1. Tara Ballyduff hung on for third.
Morley Bradshaw of Wilsonville owns and trains Diamond Turk, who jumped into the top 16 in the division point standings with the win, his first in Grassroots action.
Driver Paul Mackenzie also racked up a pair of Grassroots victories at Clinton on Sunday. Picking up the drive on Certified Election in Race 5, Mackenzie fired the Mr Lavec colt to the front from Post 3 and sailed around the Clinton half-mile without facing a challenge. The duo stopped the teletimer at 2:01, one of the fastest miles of the afternoon, three and a quarter lengths up on Sno Goal and Northern Legend. Favourite Zoltar Seelster made a break at the quarter mile marker to knock himself out of contention.
Coldwater resident Kent Baker trains Certified Election for his partners Cal Patterson of Wasaga Beach and Wayne Smith of Coldwater. The partners have banked $34,495 on their colt’s behalf this season. The win bumped Certified Election into third spot in the Grassroots point race.
Mackenzie’s second trip to the winner’s circle came aboard Gold Series regular Semi Spot in Race 6. Mackenzie and the King Conch son stalked pacesetter Crampton Express through fractions of :30, 1:00.1 and 1:31 before powering down the stretch to the 2:02 victory. Crampton Express settled for second and Earl Vic Dol picked up the third-place finisher’s share of the $18,000 Grassroots purse.
Mackenzie is the regular reinsman for $113,319 winner Semi Spot, who is trained by Kirby MacDonald for Kathlyn MacDonald of Paris, Walter Bauer of Brantford and Gary Silliphant of Simcoe.
It was a day of doubles at Clinton as Ross Battin also picked up a pair of victories. The veteran Ontario Sires Stakes reinsman was the only driver able to steer a favourite to victory, achieving the elusive feat with At A Boy Eric in Race 2 and Jayport Express in Race 11. Wellwood Stables Inc. of Cambridge and Barry Hearn of St. Pauls Station share ownership on At A Boy Eric, who also halted the clock at 2:01. Thomas Porchak of Woodstock bred and owns 2:01.4 winner Jayport Express, a regular on the Gold Series circuit this season.
The three-year-old trotting colts resume their Grassroots rivalry on Sept. 26 at Rideau Carleton Raceway, while Clinton Raceway continues its exciting four week line-up of Ontario Sires Stakes action with a Grassroots wild card for the two-year-old trotting fillies next Sunday, Sept. 14.