from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Elora, ON — A total of seven $16,740 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers were featured on Monday night (July 21) at Grand River Raceway and they saved the fastest split for last as Single White Sock toured the half-mile oval in 1:56.

With Scott Coulter at the lines, Single White Sock was in front through fractions of :27.4, :58, and 1:27.3. Single White Sock turned away a big three-wide bid by Twin B Scandal (Joe Hudon) past three-quarters, and he then kicked clear in the lane to prevail by 2-1/4 lengths. Twin B Scandal wound up second with Pan Street USA (Bob McClure) back in third.

It was the second win in three starts for Single White Sock, a Badlands Hanover colt trained by Barry Treen for owner Len Gamble. Tanya Prescott bred Single White Sock, who was purchased for $24,000 at the 2013 Canadian Yearling Sale. Single White Sock, an earner of $17,281, is the fifth foal out of the Apaches Fame mare Love You Dear, making him a half-brother to millionaire and former Ontario Sires Stakes winner Ramegade Bruiser.

Camluck, the long-time stalwart sire of the Ontario Sires Stakes program, had a pair of winners with Big Moment winning the second division in 1:56.1 with Alfie Carroll handling the driving assignment and Mike’s Powerhouse picking up a 1:56.4 victory in the third section for driver Trevor Henry.

Big Moment broke his maiden in his second attempt for trainer Bob McIntosh, who also bred the colt with CSX Stables. McIntosh and partner Max Newham own Big Moment, the fourth foal out of the No Pan Intended mare Breathtacular. Breathtacular is related to two six-figure earners in Breathdefying and Lucky Encounter.

Mike’s Powerhouse, who is out of the Artsplace mare Michelle’s Jackpot, making him a full brother to the likes of 2012 Little Brown Jug champion and millionaire Michael’s Power and millionaire Michelle’s Power, is trained by Casie Coleman for owner-breeder Jeff Snyder. Mike’s Powerhouse was victorious at first asking after finishing fourth and first in two qualifiers at Mohawk Racetrack.

Coleman was right back in the winner’s circle in the next race after Mike’s Powerhouse’s victory as her Sportskeeper (Jody Jamieson) romped to a an 8-1/4 length decision in 1:56.3.

Coleman also bred and co-owns Sportskeeper, a Sportswriter colt, with partner Merlin Howse. Sportskeeper, who was also making the initial start of his racing career, is the third foal out of the Nuclear Flash mare Keeper Flying, which means Sportskeeper is a half-brother to former Ontario Sires Stakes competitor Keepers Destiny (Intrepid Seelster, $702,855).

Sportswriter had another siring credit with Half A Billion, who was a 1:57.3 victor in the sixth Grassroots flight. Mike Saftic drove the colt for trainer Marcel Barrieau.

Half A Billion is a homebred for the Hudson Standardbred Stable and he is a perfect two-for-two in his career and in Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series competition. Half A Billion, the fifth foal out of the Western Hanover mare Racey Miss, is a half-brother to multiple OSS winner Racey Miss ($214,571) and Petite Courageuse ($195,733).

Also picking up victories were:

• Bridge Of Stone, a Stonebridge Regal-Dreamlands Sachi (Western Hanover) gelding, who halted the clock in 1:57.3 for driver Scott Coulter, trainer Carmen Auciello, and owners Denarben Stables and Rocco Auciello. He has won both of his Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series tries
• The Fire Within, a gelding by Whosurboy and out of the Big Towner mare Mollie Hanover. The half-brother to Illusionist ($893,246) picked up his second win from three attempts for driver Jody Jamieson and breeder/owner/trainer Fred Drouillard.

The next time the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series will be in action is August 15 at Mohawk Racetrack. For full results of Monday’s night’s events, click here.

Rookie Seelster-bred colts take two Grassroots

Campbellville, ON — Hemi Seelster, a colt from the first crop of Holiday Road, refused to lose in the third of six $16,740 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for 2-year-old trotting colts at Mohawk Racetrack. Another Seelster Farms-bred colt, Grandprix Seelster, used different tactics to capture his division.

In the third division Benvenuti was first off the gate as the wings folded for trainer Eddie Green and headed the field past the opening marker in :28.2. A few colts made breaks which allowed Benvenuti and pocket sitter Hemi Seelster to stride away from the field but a few had caught up by the :59 half.

At that point Steve Byron pulled Hemi Seelster out and took over the front well before the three-quarters in 1:29.1. Pilgrims Joy came up to challenge and that pair battled gamely down the stretch with a determined Hemi Seelster refusing to lose and hitting the wire first in 1:58.4, the fastest of the six OSS splits. Pilgrims Joy (Pilgrims Taj) had to settle for second this night with Winning Wizard (Kadabra) third.

It was the second straight OSS victory for Hemi Seelster, trained by John Bax, who co-owns with son Matthew Bax, the Goin To The Show Stable and John Houston.

Hemi’s former stablemate at Seelster Farms, Grandprix Seelster, took his time getting into the race in the fourth division, but when he did he meant business. That race saw At The Disco and Byron first at the quarter in :28.4 and the half in :59.3. At that point Grandprix Seelster was ninth.

Ontheroad De Vie took over command well before the 1:29.3 third panel but as the field trotted down the stretch Randy Waples stick handled Grandprix Seelster through horses to haul down the leader and win in 2:00.2 over Ontheroad De Vie and Federal.

It was the first lifetime start for Grandprix Seelster, a son of Federal Flex owned by Glengate Farms, Goldfinger Stables and trainer Pat Hunt. He is the 10th foal from $484,208 winner Gramola. A mere $8,000 buy at the Forest City Sale, the colt has already made back his purchase price with just one start.

Monday night’s other divisions were captured by Lexus Magnum (Windsong Espoir-Lexus Hall) and James MacDonald in 1:59.3 for owner/trainer/breeder Norm Dunstan; Stormont Wizard (Kadabra-Stormont Cinderela) and Rick Zeron in 1:59.3 for trainer Kevin Benn and owner/breeder Stormont Meadows; Its Huw You Know (Holiday Road-Lukes Elvira) and trainer/driver Keith Jones in 2:00.3 for owner Doug McCarthy; and Pridecrest (Angus Hall-Spilled Milk) and Roger Mayotte in 2:00.2 for trainer Susie Kerwood and owner/breeder Langcrest Farm.

This group will meet next at Grand River Raceway on July 30 and their Gold counterparts will face off the day before at Mohawk.

To view the full results from Monday night’s card at Mohawk, click here.