Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings made their way to Mohawk Racetrack Tuesday evening for the final round of the regular season of the O.S.S. Grassroots, with divisional scores going to When You Dance, Zen Da Ballykeel, Casimir Richie P and Pretty Handsome.
When You Dance knocked off heavily-favoured Phantom Seelster in their $18,800 opening division, and in doing so he celebrated his first ever stakes triumph.
The son of Mach Three-Armbro Dancer shot to the lead for driver Doug McNair and carved out an opening quarter clocked in :27.2 before taking a backseat to Phantom Seelster. The 1-5 favourite took over in the backstretch and led through middle panels of :55.1 and 1:24.2. When You Dance popped the pocket in the lane and is :28-second kicker was enough to earn him the win by four lengths over Phantom Seelster in 1:52.3. Notabadgame was third.
Trainer Ben Wallace’s Wallacestandardbreds Inc shares ownership on the youngster with Daniel Plouffe and Birnam Wood Farms. It was the second career tally for the gelding who improved his record to 2-1-2 from seven starts with the win. He’s banked more than $25,000 along the way.
Zen Da Ballykeel took the next division in come-from-behind fashion for the team of driver Louis Philippe Roy and Richard Moreau.
Roy got away sixth with the homebred son of Mach Three-Gemini Jeannie while Chocolate Swirl sprinted to the lead and knifed out fractions of :27, :55.3 and 1:23.2. Zen Da Ballykeel tipped off the fail going to the three-quarter pole and then he used a :28.4 closing quarter to win by a neck over Northern Rebel in 1:53.2. Race favourite Southwind Grizzly was third.
Let go at odds of 7-1, the Richard Moreau trainee bettered his record to 2-2-0 from 10 starts with the score. Ballykeel Racing Inc of Tillsonburg, Ont. owns the pacer who secured a new lifetime mark in the process.
Casimir Richie P went to the front and didn’t look back in his $19,150 division en route to posting a 1:52.4 triumph for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Dr. Ian Moore.
Henry hustled the son of Astronomical-Casimir Hugs through panels of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:26 before roaring home in :26.4 to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Letjimmytakeover. Luka Shenko took home the show dough.
Moore shares ownership on the freshman with Michael Goldberg and Tyler Moore. The career winner of $36,945 owns a 2-2-0 record from nine appearances.
Pretty Handsome took the final division in front stepping fashion for the tandem of driver Jonathan Drury and trainer Andrew McCabe.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Pretty Handsome sped through middle fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.2 before kicking home in :28.3 to win by a half-length margin over Atomic Seelster in 1:53.4. JM Jack Of Hearts rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Glenview Livestock Ltd of Wallenstein, Ont. owns the son of Mach Three-Pretty Thing. The colt has manufactured an impressive 3-1-0 record from five tries plus a bankroll that stands at $31,200.
(Standardbred Canada)
