from the Ontario Sire Stakes

Campbellville, ON — With 15 events completed Sylvain Filion currently leads all drivers in the Ontario Sires Stakes program with 115 Lampman Cup points, and the Milton resident added a few more to his total by guiding two sophomore trotters to Grassroots victories at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening (July 3).

Filion’s first Grassroots appearance came in the second $14,400 division with Duh Bubbees, who opened his 3-year-old campaign with a fifth-place result at the Gold Series level. Starting from post two, Filion sent Duh Bubbees straight to the front and the duo controlled the tempo through fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:26.2, holding on at the wire for a half-length victory over former Grassroots division winners Call Me Richard and Kadabrasnewrecruit.

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Sylvain Filion guided 3-year-old trotting gelding Duh Bubbees to a 1:55.2 Grassroots win at Mohawk.

Duh Bubbees hit the wire in 1:55.2, the quickest of the five Grassroots divisions and a new personal best for the homebred son of Up Front Ben and Nothing To Justify. Trainer Jamie Wilson bred the gelding and conditions him for Chris Wilson. Through 10 starts this season Duh Bubbees has two wins and one second for earnings of $22,214.

Filion was back in the winner’s circle after the last race, delivering a confident performance with fan favorite Its Huw You Know from post eight. After getting away fourth, Filion sent the Holiday Road gelding to the front and Its Huw You Know cruised home a one length winner over P L Intimidator and Delcrest Massy in a personal best 1:56.4.

Keith Jones conditions Its Huw You Know for Douglas McCarthy. Filion also guided the gelding to a Grassroots win in the June 24 event at Grand River Raceway, and adding his fourth-place result from the June 4 season opener at Mohawk gives Its Huw You Know a total of 108 points and sole ownership of second spot in the standings at the halfway mark in the 3-year-old trotting colt and gelding Grassroots schedule.

A two-time winner of the Ontario Sires Stakes driving title (2012 and 2013), Filion finished third in his only other Grassroots start on Friday, unable to catch the fourth division favorite New Muscle AS with his mount Buzz.

After getting caught at the wire in the Grand River event, Rick Zeron opted to race New Muscle AS from off the pace and the Muscle Mass gelding responded with an impressive 1:56.2 personal best, powering down the stretch to a 1-1/4 length victory over Stormont Wizard and Buzz.

Anette Lorentzon trains New Muscle AS, who finished second in both of his early season Grassroots starts, for ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson. Friday’s win bumped the gelding into a tie for third spot in the standings with 100 points and puts him in an excellent position to earn a berth in the lucrative post season.

Pilgrims Joy also leapt up the standings with an impressive performance in the third Grassroots division. After getting away near the back of the field from post seven, driver James MacDonald sent Pilgrims Joy up the outside and the colt accelerated past the leaders and opened up a five length margin heading into the stretch that he maintained all the way to the wire, besting Ontheroad De Vie and Let’s Be Honest.

The 1:56 performance was a personal best for Pilgrims Joy, who is trained by Johnathan McKinnon and owned by breeder Len Kordy. The Pilgrims Taj son made a break and finished eighth in his Grassroots outing at Grand River and logged a second-place result in the season opener for a total of 76 points.

The other Grassroots trophy awarded at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening went home with Namesmuscle, who delivered a 2-1/4 length victory in the first division for driver Doug McNair, trainer Pam Forgie and owner John Patterson. Parkhill Lancelot and Thoughtful Leader completed the triactor.

Like Duh Bubbees, Namesmuscle started his sophomore campaign at the Gold Series level, finishing second in a division of the season opener at Western Fair Raceway on May 27. Friday’s 1:56.3 triumph was the Muscle Mass son’s first of the season and boosted his lifetime earnings to $41,512.

With just 50 points, Namesmuscle and Duh Bubbees will be looking to add to their tally in the fourth Grassroots event on the 3-year-old trotting colt and gelding calendar, July 18 at Kawartha Downs.

Mohawk Racetrack kicks off the 2-year-old Ontario Sires Stakes season on Monday (July 6) with three Gold Series divisions for the pacing fillies. The fillies are featured in races three, six, and nine on the 7:25 p.m. program.