from the Ontario Sire Stakes

Clinton, ON — Ontario’s talented 3-year-old pacing colts put on an impressive show for Clinton Raceway fans on Sunday afternoon (June 21), kicked off by a 1:54.4 mile from Maracasso in his second straight Grassroots win.

Miller photo

Phil Hudon piloted Maracasso to his second straight Grassroots victory, circling Clinton Raceway in 1:54.4.

In rein to Phil Hudon, Maracasso fired to the front from post three and sprinted through sharp early fractions of :28.2 and :55.1 that put him seven lengths in front of the field. In spite of cooling the tempo through the 1:24.2 three-quarters, Maracasso still hit the wire 2-3/4 lengths ahead of Bob Ben And John. Fan favorite The Fire Within was 10 more lengths back in third.

“He was actually hitting the bike; he was wound up,” said Hudon after the race. “So I just let him do what he wanted to, I would have took a lot out of him fighting him. And then up the backside I just tried to get as much real estate as I could, and it worked.

“He raced good, he raced super — it was a great mile. Made my day anyways; I was happy,” added the reinsman, who drove Maracasso to the win for trainer John Williamson and his co-owner Daniel Haist.

The victory puts Maracasso at the top of the 3-year-old pacing colt and gelding Grassroots standings with 100 points, earned through his wins at Clinton on Sunday and at Mohawk Racetrack on June 2. The Lisa Mara son has tallied C$19,120 through five starts this season.

Eight races later Hudon’s mood was further elevated when he teamed Jeb to a 1:56.1 victory for trainer James “Friday” Dean and owners Wilma and James MacKenzie.

“He raced good. I just ended up cutting it out, got good fractions and let him kick home,” said Hudon of Jeb’s victory. “He’s a nice little horse. He’s a trip horse, but I figured on the small tracks you want to be on the front if you can get there.”

Starting from post one in the ninth race, Jeb rang up fractions of :28.1, :58 and 1:27.1 on his way to the half-length victory over Deseronto and Charlottes Colony. The Camluck colt benefited from an early speed duel that saw Deseronto and driver Trevor Henry thwart Naturescape and driver Doug McNair in their efforts to reach the front end.

“If Trevor can’t keep Dougie out in the turn, I would have been sitting third probably, so it worked out good. Just one of those days when everything works,” said Hudon.

Jody Jamieson gave his father Carl a fitting Father’s Day gift when he piloted Make Some Luck to a 1:56.1 victory in the fourth Grassroots division. Make Some Luck prevailed by 1-1/4 lengths in spite of a tough trip that saw him sit in the outer lane through much of the mile.

“He wasn’t well driven, but he was well prepared by my Dad on Father’s Day,” quipped the younger Jamieson, who owns the Camluck gelding and was joined in the winner’s circle by his own son Jett.

The win, over Pace Seelster and pacesetter Alexas Prayer, boosted Make Some Luck’s 2015 Grassroots record to one win and one third for a total of 62 points.

Driver Doug McNair also teamed his father Gregg’s horse to a win in the second Grassroots division. The younger McNair sent Mac Raider straight to the front from post five and the Mach Three gelding cruised home a 4-3/4 length winner in 1:56.4. The fan favorites bested Draft Seelster and Mister Big Top.

Gregg McNair shares ownership of Mac Raider with Leonard Gamble, Don MacDonald and David Kryway.

Jereme’s Jet son Win One Soon captured the third Grassroots division, reeling in pacesetter Camvicted and Myhoneytellsall in the stretch. Sylvain Filion engineered the 1:57 victory for trainer Patrick Fletcher and owner Ronald Ash.

After starting his season at the Gold Series level, Southwind Indy found the Grassroots competition more to his liking, sailing around the Clinton half-mile to a 1:56.3 win for driver Chris Christoforou, trainer Casie Coleman and owners West Wins Stable, Steve Calhoun and Southwind Farms LLC.

The Sportswriter son reached the finish two lengths ahead of Regal Sight and Mach Code.

Sylvain Filion made his second trip to the Grassroots winner’s circle in the final division, steering Western Bayama to a come-from-behind victory in 1:57.2. Stephane Larocque trains the Lis Mara colt for owner-breeders Bayama Farms Inc. Sports Lightning and Halton Hurricane completed the triactor in the final division.

Through the seven Grassroots contests and three overnight races, Clinton Raceway fans wagered a grand total of $38,000. Fans also donated generously to the Seaforth Public School playground equipment fundraiser, pushing the school $4,500 closer to their goal.

Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Clinton on Sunday (July 19) with the second Grassroots event for the 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings. The third Grassroots event for the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings goes postward at Georgian Downs on July 4.