Freshman colts and geldings were on display at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday (Sept. 12) as they took the track for three divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series as part of the fifth leg of the series, worth $23,000 each.
As one of four driving victories on the card, Trevor Henry took post nine Nzuri to the winner’s circle in the series opener on the card.
Nzuri was caught on the outside in second through the opening panel in :28.4 as Fabulous Freddie (Chris Christoforou) controlled the rail real estate. Henry urged the Paul Walker trainee forward and Nzuri slipped to the inside on the front. He commanded two more clockings in :58.4 and 1:28.2 before pointing himself towards the wire. Fabulous Freddie demanded a stretch battle against the favourite, but Nzuri was the best at the wire by a nose in 1:57. Stormont Happy Day (Sylvain Filion) took the show spot.
Walker co-owns the Muscle Mass gelding with Julie Walker and Rodney Foulds as he earned his second win in his fifth outing. He now shows $31,172 earned for the season. Nzuri paid a $3.80 win ticket.
James MacDonald followed a pocket trip with Alexander to take the second division and the first career tally for the Muscle Mass gelding.
Alexander sat second behind favourite Salem Seelster (Louis-Philippe Roy) through the quarter in :28.3 and half in :58.4. A miscue by the leader left Alexander in charge for a brief split, but Northernchancellor (Austin Sorrie) hit the three-quarters in 1:28.3 first. With a miscue by the new leader, Alexander was left with open track en route to a 2-1/2 length win in 1:57.3 for trainer Matthew Bax. Hilarious Archie (Bob McClure) took second and R No Mercy (Doug McNair) finished third.
With one win, four seconds, two thirds, and a fifth, Alexander has not missed the board in his eight trips to the track. He moved his career bankroll to $38,014 for owners Bax Stable, Glengate Farms, and Don Allensen. Alexander paid $30 to win in the upset victory.
Ways N Means sprinted in the stretch in the final OSS Grassroots division of the evening to take home the winner’s share of the $23,000 purse.
Doug McNair and the Michael Keeling trainee sat seventh through panels in :28.1 and :58.2 before pulling third over at the three-quarters in 1:28.1. Ways N Means moved up into fourth in the final turn and used every bit of track remaining to not only pass the leading horses, but to win by a comfortable 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58. Stormont Cheerio (Bob McClure) followed from the back of the pack to take second and Bear Necessities (Tyler Borth) ended in third.
Owned by Dreamville Stable and Harbor Racing Stable LLC, the freshman son of Muscle Mass earned his third win in seven starts. He moved his career bankroll to $42,373. Ways N Means returned $2.50 to his backers as the favourite.
(Standardbred Canada)
