OTTAWA, ON — Watkins leapt to the top of the three-year-old trotting colt Grassroots standings with a hard fought come from behind victory at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening.
With regular reinsman Doug Brown in the race bike, Watkins eased away from Post 6 and settled into sixth spot in the field of eight. As two-time Grassroots winner Pointe To Pointe rocked through fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.4, Watkins made steady progress up the outside and was only two and three-quarter lengths off the pace by the three-quarter pole.
Watkins wrestled control away from Pointe To Pointe around the final turn and was able to hold off a late charge from Keystone Swagger to earn the neck victory in a personal best 1:56.2. Keystone Swagger earned the runner-up share of the $24,000 Grassroots purse, with Pointe To Pointe settling for third, eight lengths behind the leaders.
Peterborough, ON resident Dr. Peter Johnston and Watkins Equine Inc. of Newcastle, ON bred and own the talented son of Striking Sahbra, who has an impressive five wins, one second and one third through seven starts this season. Johnston also handles training duties on the gelding, who boosted his season earnings to $47,190 with Sunday’s triumph.
Brown also piloted the winner of the first Grassroots division, earning Santo Domingo his second win of the season in a personal best clocking of 1:57.4.
The pair powered away from Post 5 and reached the quarter in :27.2 before handing the lead over to fan favourite Pio Power. As Pio Power took the field to a :57.1 half and 1:26.3 three-quarters, Brown and Santo Domingo were tucked in comfortably behind the leader. Fighting off a fierce challenge from Icarus Kemp around the last turn, Pio Power made an unexpected break that left Santo Domingo a clear path to the finish line.
Zorgwijk Knight got up for second, two and one-quarter lengths behind Santo Domingo, with Icarus Kemp two more lengths to the rear in third. Lansdowne, ON resident Mark Steacy trains and drives Icarus Kemp for David McDonald of Cornwall, ON, Landmark II Racing Stable of Elginburg, ON, David Reid of Glenburnie, ON and Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, QC.
Santo Domingo’s triumph bumped the Amigo Hall son into third place in the division standing with 108 points earned through the first three events. Norman Campbell trains the winner of $26,700 for Jalade Investments Ltd. of Oakville, ON, Deanmar Sons Stable of Mississauga, ON, Peter Miskolczi of Brampton, ON and Dalmet Farms Holdings Inc. of Brampton, ON.
Driver Mike Saftic also recorded a Grassroots double at Rideau Carleton on Sunday. The veteran reinsman piloted Krakatoa to a commanding three and three-quarter length victory in the fourth race and Anahar Chase to a five and a half length win in the eleventh.
Starting from Post 6 with Krakatoa, Saftic settled the Amigo Hall son into fourth while Stormont Wales and Sombrero Hall posted a :28.1 opening quarter and a :59.2 half. Saftic shifted the colt into gear heading for the three-quarters and Krakatoa posted the 1:28.3 clocking before sailing away from his peers to the 1:58 victory. Sombrero Hall finished second, with Oaxaca well back in third.
Trainer Gregg McNair started Krakatoa off at the Gold Series level in May, but the colt has found the Grassroots program more to his liking, posting one win and one second in two starts. Bloomingwood Farms Ltd. bred and own Krakatoa, who bumped his lifetime earnings up to $91,700 with the win.
In the eleventh race, Saftic dropped Anahar Chase into second from Post 5, and trailed Tymal Time through fractions of :28 and :59.2 before shifting to the outside heading for the 1:29.4 three-quarters. Trotting smartly around the final turn, Anahar Chase put five lengths between the back of his race bike and the rest of the field and sailed home to an effortless 1:59.2 victory.
Ja El Express made a bold three-wide move at the three-quarter marker, but had to settle for second, while fan favourite MC Cloud finished third.
Saftic engineered the win for trainer Michel Rivest of Lynden, ON and his partners Denis Rivest of Palgrave, ON and Gary Silliphant of Simcoe, ON. Through 12 starts this season the Oaklea Julian gelding has two wins, one second and three thirds to his credit for earnings of $23,404.
The other two Grassroots divisions went to Rehab Mountain in 1:59.3 and Daring Dreamer in 1:58.2.
The sophomore trotting colts make their fourth Grassroots start of the season at Hanover Raceway on Aug. 14. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday, July 30, when the Ottawa oval welcomes the two-year-old trotting fillies for their second Grassroots outing.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0711ridcfn.dat.