by Sandra Snyder

Campbellville, ON — Mohawk Racetrack fans who made a special effort to get back to the Campbellville oval for Sunday’s (July 19) C$130,000 2-year-old pacing colt Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final were not disappointed, as Ontario’s talented freshmen put on another exceptional display.

After battling a fever earlier in the week, Future Million quickly demonstrated he was back to good health, blasting away from post eight to a :27.1 opening quarter. The Million Dollar Cam son and driver Simon Allard yielded the front end briefly to Wellthereyougo, but Allard opted to retake the lead and had the colt driving forward before the :56.1 half.

Future Million continued to set the pace through the 1:25.1 three-quarters, but there was a line-up of talented colts heading up the outside, including fan favorite Lyons Danny and elimination winner Grin For Money. Turning for home Future Million still had a one length lead, but Sylvain Filion was just starting to shift Grin For Money into gear. Once that shift change was complete, the Grinfromeartoear-Our Inheritance son exploded down the stretch to a one length victory in 1:53.1. Future Million stayed game for second, while Lyons Danny got up for third.

Sunday marked the second straight week that Mohawk fans have watched Grin For Money deliver a blistering stretch drive to claim an Ontario Sires Stakes trophy. In last weekend’s elimination, the colt laid down a :26.2 final quarter to post his 1:54.2 win.

John Kopas trains the talented youngster for the ecstatic members of the Grin For Money Stable, part of the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association’s (SBOA) New Owners Program. Designed to encourage individuals with an interest in harness racing to take the direct step into ownership of a race horse, the program provides step-by-step guidance from an experienced owner, in this case London resident Tom Brodhurst.

Brodhurst and the nine new owners put up C$4,500 to launch their group — the eighth that the SBOA has created since 2005 — and the SBOA provided a “forgivable loan” of C$15,000. Kopas was selected as their trainer, and the Milton resident purchased Grin For Money out of the Canadian Open Yearling Sale for C$20,000. The remaining C$40,000 was earmarked for training fees, staking costs and other expenses incurred through the first year of ownership. (For more information about the SBOA New Owner Mentoring Program go to http://www.sboa.info/mentoring.html.)

Kopas was impressed with the colt early, but was also concerned that his aggressive nature could become a problem. As a result, Grin For Money was schooled at the back of every training group, and Kopas and Filion have been very careful to keep him well off the pace through two qualifiers and his first three starts.

All of the care has clearly paid off and the comments Kopas made before the colt’s Ontario Sires Stakes debut appear to be right on the money.

“I really think, as long as we don’t encounter any problems, he’s a top colt,” said the veteran horseman. “I really do.”

Grin For Money’s first attempt to defend his Gold Final title comes Aug. 9 at Flamboro Downs, when the freshman pacing colts make the second stop on their Gold Series tour.

Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening (July 20) when the 2-year-old pacing fillies square off in their first C$130,000 Gold Final — the fifth race on the 7:20 p.m. program.