ELORA, ON — Mikie Will stepped off the fastest of seven Grassroots divisions at Grand River Raceway on Friday evening, stopping the teletimer at 2:01.3.
Leaving from Post 2, the three-year-old trotting colt got a classic steer from reigning Lampman Cup champion Ross Battin. The veteran reinsman allowed favourite Earl Of Openwood to do all the work on the front end, clocking fractions of :28.4, :59.1 and 1:29.4, before stepping out and powering to the front through the stretch.
Earl Of Openwood finished two and three-quarter lengths back in second, bringing his Grassroots win streak to an end at four, while TJs Incredible Lad earned third-place honours for James Laverty of Sauble Beach and Trevor Henry of Arthur.
Robert Quinn trains Brylin Boyz son Mikie Will for his partner Lennox Lepine of Ajax. The Newcastle resident has conditioned the colt to one win, three seconds and three thirds in 10 starts this season.
Favourites struggled during the Grassroots program on Friday as only two of seven delivered the goods over the Elora oval. In Race 4 Allthehardways and Hall of Fame horseman Ron Waples eked out a neck win over J N Touchdown, stopping the clock in 2:02.2, and in Race 9 Schemin N Dreamin got the job done by an impressive three and three-quarter length margin.
James Cruise, Jr. trains Allthehardways for Jesmeral Stable of Woodridge, NJ and, although the victory was the gelding’s first on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit, he is no stranger to the winner’s circle. Through eight starts this season the Balanced Image son boasts a record of four wins and one third for earning of $19,950.
Go Wes Young Man rounded out the top three behind Allthehardways and J N Touchdown.
Schemin N Dreamin employed an identical front end strategy in the ninth race, but extended his margin with every stride, hitting the wire well ahead of Knockout and Habanero Hanover in 2:02.3.
Mark Steacy of Lansdowne trains the Incredible Abe son for his partners David Reid of Glenburnie, Malcolm Man Son Hing of Nepean and Stan Klemencic of Trenton and the group have tried the colt in both the Grassroots and Gold Series’ this season. Friday’s win will move the colt up the Grassroots standings, giving him 137 points from two wins, one second and one third in four starts.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Mr Bitter in 2:02, Fast Johnny in 2:03.1, Brethors Legacy in 2:03.4 and Bad Boy Roy in 2:03. The three-year-old trotting colts wrap up their Grassroots season on Oct. 6 at Windsor Raceway.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement is back at Grand River Raceway on Monday, Aug. 30 as the Elora oval hosts the lightning fast three-year-old pacing fillies in Trillium Series action. Headlining the event is Gold Series regular Illusionist from Post 7 in the third of three divisions, slated as Races 6, 8 and 10 on the 7:30 pm program.