WINDSOR, ON — Hall of Fame horseman Ron Waples conducted a clinic for young drivers in the first two Grassroots divisions at Windsor Raceway on Wednesday evening.
In Race 7 the veteran driver and Jaq And Gus dropped into second behind fan favourite Cubist and watched patiently as that colt rolled through fractions of :29.1, 1:01.1 and 1:30.4. Pulling to the outside just before the three-quarters Waples sent Jaq And Gus after the lead and the Angus Hall son easily changed gears and pulled away to the two and one quarter length win in 1:59.4.
Brethors Legacy closed well to land in second and Cubist settled for the third-place finisher’s share.
Waples was in the race bike behind Jaq And Gus on behalf of trainer Michelle Sutherland of Cambridge and her partners Madison Sutherland and One Horse At A Time of Cambridge. The win was the gelding’s first ever and boosted his lifetime earnings to $22,941.
Two races later Waples was back in the Windsor winner’s circle after piloting favourite Leave It To Eager to a classic come-from-behind score for trainer John Dorion of Cambridge, Leonard Dorion of Midland and Santo Vena of Brampton.
Leaving from Post 7 Leave It To Eager landed in fourth through the early going, but Waples quickly had the Eager Seelster son moving up the outside and pressuring pacesetter Odee Scoot. Heading down the stretch Leave It To Eager trotted by the leaders and pulled away to the two and a half length win in 1:59.2. Habanero Hanover and Shady Suspect rounded out the top three in Race 9.
Robert Lavictoire scored the quickest mile of the five Grassroots divisions when he trotted to a 1:59.1 score in Race 11. Another veteran reinsman, “Mr OSS” Dave Wall sent the gelding to the front from Post 3, but allowed Navarin Hanover to take control just past the opening quarter. Stalking the pacesetter through the remainder of the mile Wall waited for the stretch to take another shot at the lead and Robert Lavictoire responded with a neck victory over Navarin Hanover. Math Ace was well behind the leaders in third.
Gabriel Beaumont trains Wesgate Crown son Robert Lavictoire for Edward Vanderveer and Suzanne Lavictoire of St. Eugene. The win was the gelding’s seventh in 15 starts this season.
Paul Walker and Fast Johnny earned a neck win in Race 13 over Wake Up And Drive, with Sir Anthony rounding out the top group. Owen Sound resident Walker drives and trains the Mr Lavec son for Malcolm MacPhail and Robert MacPhail of Dover Center, Diana Brohman of Kitchener and Richard Renwick of Merlin.
The final regular season Grassroots contest went to Windsor’s Kevin Wallis and Crown Meadow in 1:59.4. Wallis piloted the Wesgate Crown son to the front-end victory for trainer Mark Austin and owners Noblock Racing Stable and Springwater Stables of Collingwood.
The top 16 point earners from the six regular season events now make their way to the Grassroots Semifinals at Georgian Downs on Oct 23, where the top four finishers from each Semifinal will advance to the $100,000 Grassroots Championship on Oct. 30.