CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Three-year-old trotting gelding Mikey Hanover celebrated Victoria Day with an impressive victory in the Grassroots season opener at Mohawk Racetrack.

Piloted by trainer Mark Steacy, Mikey Hanover took control of the race before the halfway marker and fought hard down the stretch to claim a neck victory in a personal best 1:55.1, the fastest clocking of the six Grassroots divisions. Touchdown Toss was second for trainer Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh and his partners Ken Henwood of Mississauga, Mac Nichol of Burlington, ON and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY, with Cradabra well behind the leaders in third.

The win was the third in four sophomore starts for Mikey Hanover, a son of Steacy’s former superstar trotter Majestic Son. Also a winner of one Grassroots event last season, Mikey Hanover finished fifth in the Grassroots Final at Mohawk last fall. Lansdowne resident Steacy shares ownership of the trotter with David Reid of Glenburnie, David McDonald of Cornwall, ON and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. of Ossining, NY.

Reigning Grassroots champion Northern Victory returned to provincial action in Monday’s fourth $24,000 division, and the Amigo Hall son delivered an effortless one length victory in a personal best 1:57. Milton resident Sylvain Filion engineered the victory for trainer Rodney Zeron and owner Robert Montgomery of Carp, ON.

Canadian Wildcat trotted into second behind Northern Victory, with Cool Creek Magic picking up third-place honours for owner Aristi Varsakis of Hamilton, ON.

In addition to the runner-up cheque earned by Touchdown Toss, Jeff Gillis and driver Jody Jamieson also teamed up for a Grassroots victory on the season opening program. Drawing the outside Post 10, Knows Nothing clawed his way up the outside and was in perfect position when pacesetter and fan favourite Coe Leader went off stride in the stretch.

Sprinting through the final strides Knows Nothing laid claim to a half length victory in 1:56.3 over pocket sitter R Raised Emotions and Southwind Nazareth, who is owned by trainer Shane Arsenault of Waterdown and Louis Arsenault of Freelton, ON.

Monday’s Grassroots victory was the fourth straight for Knows Nothing, who also swept his career debut, and one leg and the final of the Tie Silk Series, all at Woodbine Racetrack. Gillis shares ownership of the Kadabra colt with Nichol, Stay, Al Libfeld of Pickering, and Marvin Katz of Toronto, ON.

Sons of top Ontario sire Kadabra — who will be inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in August — captured three Grassroots divisions on Monday. In addition to Knows Nothing, Victim Of Changes captured his division with a 1:57 effort for driver Scott Zeron of Oakville, and owner-trainer Bjorn Noren of Guelph, ON. The win over O U Sexy Guy and Six Bax was Victim Of Changes’ first in a nine race career.

Kadabra son Our Mojo was also a first-time winner for driver Mike Saftic of Campbellville, trainer Mike Keeling of Cambridge and the Caveator Stable of Hamilton, ON. The gelding scored the 1:57.4 victory off a pocket trip behind pacesetter The Only One, reaching the wire one and one-half lengths ahead of Windsong Illusion and Duke of Vegas.

The other Grassroots trophy went home with Amigo Ranger, who trotted to a 1:57 triumph over Oaklea Uptown and favourite P L Fantastic. It was just the second lifetime start for Amigo Ranger, who is trained and driven by Wayne MacLean for Gerry and Brenda Gauthier of Azilda, ON.

The three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will match wits for the second time this season at Amigo Ranger’s hometrack, Sudbury Downs, on June 16. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Mohawk Racetrack on June 28 with the Gold Series debut of the two-year-old pacing fillies.

For complete results please go to Mohawk Racetrack Results — May 21, 2012