from the Ontario Sire Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Everything came together for 3-year-old pacing gelding Maracasso at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening (June 2) as the John Williamson trainee earned his first ever victory in a $14,580 Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots division.

New Image Media photo

Maracasso was a narrow winner in his OSS Grassroots division.

After sitting third through fractions of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:23.2, Maracasso burst out of the pack in the stretch and reeled in pacesetter Mac Raider to earn the nose victory in 1:53.

“The horse needed a trip and he got lucky enough to get one,” said driver Jody Jamieson after the race. “If you’re going to break your maiden, it’s better to be in a stake race than anywhere else.”

Trainer Williamson and Daniel Haist share ownership of Maracasso and Jamieson was pleased to engineer the win for the longtime partners.

“They’ve both been in the business, both partners, for a long, long time. They’ve had moderate success, but maybe this horse is their OSS horse for the year,” said the driver.

Maracasso made two starts in the Grassroots program last season, finishing third and sixth, and the Lis Mara son had two sophomore starts under his belt heading into Tuesday’s contest.

“I actually raced him last year, and he was really immature,” noted Jamieson. “He’s still fairly immature, but he definitely got the right division and he raced well.”

Maracasso bested fan favorite Mac Raider, owned by Leonard Gamble, trainer Gregg McNair, Don MacDonald and David Kryway and Regal Sight in the fourth of seven Grassroots divisions for the 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

The first division was captured by Mr Carrotts and driver Phil Hudon, who circled the Mohawk Racetrack oval in 1:52.2 for trainer Murray Brethour and owner-breeder Melvyn Varcoe. The win was the first of the season for the Mach Three gelding, but his fifth straight top three result.

Sportswriter son Windsong Lightning stepped to the quickest victory of the seven Grassroots divisions, halting the Mohawk teletimer at 1:51.3. James MacDonald engineered the win for trainer David Menary and owners Terry De Matteo, Mark Searles and 648885 Ontario Limited.

Randy Waples piloted Artful Way to a 1:51.4 score in the third split for trainer, owner and breeder Bob McIntosh. The Artistic Fella son edged out favorite Naturescape to score his second straight victory.

Mach Code earned his first win of the season in the seventh race, cruising home a five length winner in rein to Doug McNair. The leading Ontario Sires Stakes reinsman in 2014, McNair steered Mach Code to the 1:52.2 win for trainer Jeffrey Thomson, who shares ownership of the Mach Three–Early Dismissal homebred with Lori Thomson.

Driver Mario Baillargeon captured the last two divisions, guiding Tell All son Myhoneytellsall to a 1:53 win for trainer Rene Bourassa and owner-breeders M & S Racing Stable Inc. and then returning to the winner’s circle with HP Bushido Dragjet. Owned by breeder Claude Hamel, HP Bushido Dragjet is trained by Benoit Baillargeon. The Jereme’s Jet son earned the head victory over favorite York Seelster in a clocking of 1:53.3.

The 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings make their second Grassroots start at Clinton Raceway on June 21, while Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at Mohawk Racetrack this week with six Grassroots divisions for the 3-year-old trotting colts on Thursday and two Gold Series divisions for the 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday evening. Post time for both events is 7:25 p.m.