INNISFIL, ON — Mr Garjangles captured his second Grassroots event of the season in impressive fashion at Georgian Downs on Saturday evening.
The Mr Lavec son and Hall of Fame horseman Ron Waples posted a 1:59.4 triumph in the first of six Grassroots divisions, the fastest mile of the three-year-old trotting colt event. Cal Campbell trains Mr Garjangles, who jumps up the division standings into third-place with the win, for Canamerica Capital Corp. of Milton, Doug Millard Holdings Inc. of Woodstock and Stephen Scarff of Bedford, NS.
Snoops Jackpot and Hieway Earl rounded out the top three in the opening division.
Last year’s top Ontario Sires Stakes driver Don McElroy captured a pair of Grassroots divisions Saturday evening. The veteran reinsman piloted Crampton Express to a 2:02.2 victory in the fifth race for Brian Bennett of Mossley, who bred, owns and trains the Bennett Express colt. The duo bested Canadian Breeders Champion Armbro Approach and Travel Knight.
Two races later McElroy was back in the winner’s circle aboard Bob McIntosh trainee Tyrone Dillon, who stopped the clock at 2:004 to score the victory over Lukes Thomas and Village Supreme. McIntosh shares ownership on the Balanced Image son with breeder Dave Boyle of Bowmanville and CSX Stables of Liberty Center, OH. The colt has a flawless record through three Grassroots events to give him a healthy 25 point lead atop the division standings.
Also maintaining a flawless Grassroots record was Another View, who scored his second provincial victory in the tenth race. The Balanced Image son, trained and driven by Doug McIntosh for Marianne Ivey of Cincinnati and Harry Ivey of Mineral Point, WI, overcame Post 6 to score the 2:00.3 victory over Gatepost and Wireless Image.
The other divisions went to long shots Grand Turk and Nimrod, who both started from Post 9. Trevor Henry piloted Grand Turk to his second Grassroots win for his father Ross and brother Wayne Henry of Arthur and Dale Baker of Vienna. The Royal Strength son circled Georgian Downs’ five-eighths mile oval in 2:03 to score the win over Turn That Down and Seven Habits.
Nimrod scored his first Grassroots win with a 2:01 effort that landed him ahead of Royal Prophet and Earl Vic Dol. The Balanced Image son is trained and driven by Walter Whelan for M V L Stable and Charlotte Bygrave of Mississauga ad Ralph Lake of Etobicoke.
The three-year-old trotting colts make their fourth Grassroots start at Clinton Raceway on Sept. 7, and Ontario Sires Stakes excitement does not return to Georgian Downs until Saturday, Sept. 20 when the two-year-old pacing fillies make their third stop this season at the Innisfil oval to compete in Grassroots action.