from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Kadabra has been the leading trotting stallion in Ontario for several years now and his sons showed exactly why on Monday night (Juner 9) at Mohawk as they captured half of the six $16,380 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for 3-year-old trotting colts.

One of those winners was for local connections, Joanne Wray and her longtime partner Jerry Duford, who watched their homebred Ole Jack Magic score in the second division.

In that race Headsaregonna Turn took the early lead for Billy Davis Jr. and headed the field past the opening quarter in :27.2. Chris Christoforou then had favorite Ole Jack Magic up and rolling on the outside from fifth and took over the lead just past the :57.2 half.

Ole Jack Magic opened up several lengths on his rivals by the 1:26.1 third panel and was home with more than five lengths to spare in 1:56. Crowningcrest overcame a parked out trip to take second while Jack Litten closed well for third.

It was the second victory in four starts this year for Ole Jack Magic, bred and owned by Wray and trained by Duford. They also campaigned his dam, former OSS starter Whitesand Electra, a winner of nearly $100,000 during her racing career. This is the immediate family of one of the best trotters ever bred in Ontario, Hall of Famer Goodtimes, a winner of more than $2.19 million during his career.

Another Kadabra winner with Campbellville connections came in the sixth and final event where Wire Me Cash and Anthony MacDonald left well from post nine and went straight to the top to reach the first quarter in :27.3. He clicked off middle splits of :58.2 and 1:27.4 but had company in the form of Kremlin in the lane. Kremlin trotted on by to win for trainer Riina Rekila in 1:57. Razor Ramone recovered well from an early break to take second while favorite Dream Rocker was third.

Owned by breeder Overseas Farms Ltd. of Campbellville, Kremlin now has a pair of wins in five starts this year at three. His winning time knocked more than five seconds off his previous best winning time.

The third Kadabra winner, Jitterbug, danced his way to an easy victory in his test for Sylvain Filion. The race saw American Superman take early control and march the field by the opening marker in :28. Filion had his charge up and rolling from post three and took over control by the half in :57.2, was at the three-quarters in 1:26.1 and was an easy winner in 1:56 over Dowebetumnhowe and American Superman.

Marcel Barrieau trains and co-owns the winner with Conrad Leber and Gestion Mastel Inc. Jitterbug was notching his first win in two attempts this year. The colt earned nearly $40,000 from five starts in the OSS program last season.

In the first division Trevor Ritchie, known for his prowess behind a trotter, hustled Massive Pockets out from post eight to grab control early and never relinquished it. They trotted through fractions of :28, :58.3 and 1:27.3 and hit the wire first in 1:55.4. Favorite Whichamacallit closed well to take second while it was several lengths back to Kiwi Pres in third.

It was the first lifetime win for the gelding by Muscle Mass, owned by his breeders, MT Pockets Stables. Trained by Marie Dupont, Massive Pockets now has $15,550 pocketed in four starts this year.

Ritchie used the same tactics with Rub The Genie in the third division as they left hard from post nine to grab the front and head the field by the opening quarter in :27.2 and the half in :57.3. P L Hercules overtook the leader before the 1:26.1 third panel. Down the lane Steve Condren and Ramas Last Son trotted up to challenge for the front and were successful, getting to the wire first in 1:55.2, the night’s fastest OSS division. P L Hercules held for second while Passed Dat Point took third.

Ed Peconi Jr. trains the winner, a son of Majestic Son, for owner Garry Patterson. This was the first 2014 victory for Ramas Last Son who is the final foal from the $214,378 winner Smokin Rama.

Ritchie was back at it in the fifth test as he hurried Striking Hurricane out from post three for the early advantage but it didn’t last long as they were passed before the :28.2 opening quarter by Lucky Mass. That colt’s time on top was brief as Rival Seelster took over and he in turn was quickly passed by Chris Christoforou and favorite Windsun Revenge by the :57.3 half.

Windsun Revenge remained in control by the 1:26.4 three-quarters but was overtaken in the lane by Aventure and Phil Hudon who hit the wire first in 1:56.2 despite leaving from post 11. Windsun Revenge held for second with Lucky Mass third.

Bill Budd trains the winner, a gelding by Muscle Mass, owned by Orville Rursch. This was the first win this year for the horse who earned $36,710 last year at two.

The next OSS event for this division is a Gold event at Mohawk on June 24 followed by a Grassroots test two days later at the same track. Full results from Monday night’s card at Mohawk are available through this link.