GLOUCESTER, ON — EL Leonard posted his third Grassroots victory in the first of three divisions for the two-year-old trotting colts at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening.
Over a very heavy track rated six seconds slower than normal, the Sugarcane Leonard son stepped easily to the front end and cruised home to the three and one half length win in 2:07.1. Armbro Cameron, owned by Dr. Frederick Albert of Prescott was second, Reception Hall finished third and favourite Stormont Welldone, owned by Stormont Meadows of Long Sault, finished fourth.
Trained by Gary Bourgon for Erkki Laakkonen of Georgetown, EL Leonard has been next to flawless in Grassroots action this summer, his only loss on the provincial circuit coming against division leader Elaborateobsession at Hanover Raceway on Aug. 2.
With a comfortable lead atop the point standings, trainer-driver Jim Whelan opted not to race Elaborateobsession over the sloppy Gloucester oval on Sunday, leaving the door open for BJs King in the fourth race.
Veteran reinsman Tony Kerwood conserved the King Conch colt’s strength by sitting behind pacesetter King Brent through most of the mile, waiting to the final turn to make a move that would propel BJs King to the four and three-quarter length victory in 2:08.2. King Brent stayed game for second and Kenny Boy held off E L Speed for third spot in the $31,238 event.
David Furness trains BJs King for breeder Robert Key of Leechburg, PA. Sunday’s victory was the colt’s second straight in Grassroots action and moved him into a tie for third in the division standings with King Brent.
The last Grassroots division saw favourite Zorgwijk Fortunate capture his second Grassroots division with an 11 and three-quarter length romp over Claytons Valleylad and Southern Comfort K. The Wesgate Crown son stopped the clock in 2:07.4 to earn his third victory of the season.
Owned by trainer Terry Allen of Carlisle and John Allen of Freelton, Zorgwijk Fortunate started off his freshman campaign with a victory in a Gold Series Elimination at Woodbine Racetrack, but an eighth place finish in the July 19 Gold Final and a seventh-place result in the next Gold Elimination caused the Allen’s to drop the colt into the Grassroots. In his first start at the Grassroots level Zorgwijk Fortunate sailed to a four and a half length win at Georgian Downs and Sunday’s victory secured the colt a berth in the Grassroots Semifinals.
The top 16 point earners will head to Hiawatha Horse Park on Oct. 28 for a pair of Semifinals, with the top four finishers from each Semifinal returning to the Sarnia oval for the $100,000 Grassroots Championship on Nov. 6.
Rideau Carleton Raceway has one event remaining on its 2004 Ontario Sires Stakes schedule, Gold Series Eliminations for the two-year-old pacing colts on Friday, Oct. 29 with the $130,000 Gold Final slated for Thursday, Nov. 4.