from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — While Sportswriter’s first crop has been garnering attention as the 2-year-old pacers embark on their Ontario Sires Stakes season this week, Camluck, who has led the Ontario pacing sires standings for years, showed Tuesday night (July 8) he still can still compete with the young upstart. Six $16,920 OSS Grassroots divisions for rookie pacing colts went postward Tuesday evening at Mohawk and sons of Camluck were successful in two of the splits as were sons of Sportswriter.

The first and fastest test saw Give Em Back and Paul MacDonell grab the lead easily to hit the opening panel in :28.1, the half in :57.2 and the three-quarters in 1:26.1. But he had company in the stretch as Mike Saftic had Half A Billion in full stride and he managed to haul down the leader to win in 1:54.3. Ace Of Clubs shot up the rail to take second while Give Em Back held for third.

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Half A Billion lit up the toteboard at odds of 50-1.

It was the first lifetime start for Half A Billion, who went off at 50-1. Trained by Marcel Barrieau for owner/breeder Hudson Standardbred Inc., the Sportswriter-Racey Date colt is a half-brother to $214,571 winner Racey Miss.

The fourth split began with Nor Star Renegade leaving well from post nine to get the field by the first quarter in :28.1. He hit the half in :58.1 but soon had company as Feeling Cam Lucky came out from second and was head to head with the leader at the 1:26.4 three-quarters. But Nor Star Renegade could not be caught down the stretch to win in 1:57.1 over Feeling Cam Lucky and Jet Settin Mitt.

It was the second lifetime start, and first victory for the son of Sportswriter-Allamerican Terra trained by Dave Menary and driven by Jody Jamieson for breeder Bruce Norris, who co-owns with Deborah and James Hewson.

Jamieson was right back in the winner’s circle following the fifth division that saw Sports Bettor head first to the quarter in :28, the half in :57.3 and the three-quarters in 1:27. Make Some Luck and Jamieson came out to challenge and went on by the leader to win comfortably in 1:55.2. Sports Bettor held for second with Double Decker third.

Jamieson’s father Carl trains the winner, a son of Camluck-Mustang Kensley making his first lifetime start for 1140545 Ontario LTD.

Camluck’s other winner was the simply named Jeb, who was home first in 1:57.1 over Twin B Scandal and Thinkofagameplan. Wilma and Jim MacKenzie own the victor, the second foal of Keystone Treasure, a half-sister to $1.9 million winner and former OSS star Invitro. ‘Friday’ Dean trains and Phil Hudon was at the lines.

Hudon was also victorious in the final division with Bridge Of Stone who battled down the lane to haul down leader Matchplay Bluechip and prevail in 1:57.3. A hard closing St Lads McSteamy was third. It was the first lifetime start for the son of Stonebridge Regal-Dreamland’s Sachi owned by Michael Dennison and trained by Herb Holland.

Single White Sock, a son of Badlands Hanover-Love You Dear, captured his division for Randy Waples in 1:56.2 over Mach Code and The Fire Within. Barry Treen trains the colt who won by more than six lengths, for owner Len Gamble.

The next Grassroots test for this division will take place on July 21 at Grand River Raceway.

To view Tuesday night’s full results, please click this link.