by Greg Blanchard, Assistant Raceway Manager, Western Fair Raceway

London, ON — The 2010 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots season came to a very impressive end with eight great C$100,000 Championship races for each category on Saturday night (Oct. 23) at Western Fair, anchoring the London, Ontario track’s richest program in its 50-year history.

The weather didn’t co-operate as the rain made the track’s condition only good, but that didn’t prevent the action on the track from being red hot for the many spectators in attendance.

The following is a brief summary of the eight C$100,000 Grassroots Championship races:

2-Year-Old Filly Trotters

Magic Wheel earned her first place check in the opening Championship race. Karen Hudon sent the Kadabra daughter to the top before the 1:00.1 half to grab the lead from Some Like It Hot. As they rounded the final turn Lyle MacArthur popped Some Like It Hot out from the garden spot and the two rookies battled down the lane.

Hudon’s filly refused to give up and was a head winner in 2:01.3. Some Like It Hot (Ken Warkentin) had to settle for second this night while Wild Logic (Malabar Maple) was third. Hudon, who was one of Canada’s top female drivers for many years racing as Karen Fekete, shares ownership of the winner with breeder Margaret Payne of Florida.

From the Balanced Image mare Ws Balanced Wheel, the winner is now 4-2-1 in nine starts for just over C$100,000 in earnings. Magic Wheel is trained by Hudon’s husband Joe Hudon, who drove one of the favorites in the race, Dabrina, who unfortunately went offstride.

2-Year-Old Filly Pacers

Camille, a full sister to C$1.5 million winner Chancey Lady, captured the 2-year-old pacing filly final for Jason Brewer in 1:57 over Trusting and Expoxy Queen.

Trained by Rod Duford for owner/breeder Larry Pollard, Camille was recording her fourth straight victory. Duford, who described the filly as “a perfect little angel” noted that Saturday night’s effort was the final race of Camille’s rookie campaign. She concludes with a summary of 4-1-2 in 11 starts with just under C$100,000 in earnings.

2-Year-Old Colt Trotters

Randy Waples had never driven the 2-year-old trotting colt Tamarind prior to Saturday night’s C$100,000 Championship but they obviously hit it off, combining for a 2:01.1 victory over Chuckalo Caden and Assignment.

It was the fourth win in nine starts this year for the Angus Hall colt owned by Landmark III Racing Stable, David Reid and Stan Klemencic. Mark Steacy trains the winner who now has C$85,000 banked from four wins in nine starts in his freshman season.

3-Year-Old Filly Pacers

Randy Waples was back in the winner’s circle following the sophomore filly pace championship with Putnam Mackenzie who was flying three wide to take over the lead before the three-quarters and won easily in 1:55.3 over Modern Beauty and Lucky Jeans.

Owned by Putnam Training Centre and Jamie Bardoel, Putnam Mackenzie was notching her ninth win in 23 starts this year to up her bankroll to C$170,000. Trainer Dave Menary noted after the race that she’ll get a bit of a breather and be back to the races next year at four.

3-Year-Old Filly Trotters

Bertos Angel turned in a gutsy effort to hold off several challengers and win the 3-year-old filly trot final for Scott Zeron in 2:00.1 over Keystone Ballerina and Isthatallyagot. It was the third straight win for Bertos Angel who captured her elimination last week by more than three lengths.

Rob Fellows trains the winner, a daughter of Ken Warkentin, for owners John Wagner and Scott Woogen. Bertos Angel now has five wins in 16 starts this year and upped her seasonal bankroll to C$112,000.

3-Year-Old Colt Trotters

It was an emotional Dr. Pete Johnston who greeted his homebred 3-year-old trotting colt Watkins following the C$100,000 OSS Grassroots Championship which he won in 1:59 over Northern Spark and Fuel Cell who deadheated for second.

Just two weeks ago Johnston’s wife, longtime owner Judie Johnston, passed away and driver Mike Saftic noted that it was an extra special victory.

“He (Pete) was emotional and he should have been, it was a special win and a special horse.”

Johnston trains and co-owns Watkins, a son of Striking Sahbra with fellow breeders Watkins Equine. It was the gelding’s eighth win in 12 starts this year.

2-Year-Old Colt Pacers

Just Asign To Me rolled to his seventh straight Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots victory in Saturday night’s C$100,000 Championship for 2-year-old pacing colts. Purchased sight unseen off the internet by the Cat Sass Stable, the colt is nine for 11 on the year with C$140,000 banked.

Bruce Gilkinson trains the son of Grinfromeartoear who was home first in 1:56.3 to defeat Facebook and Hi Sir.

3-Year-Old Colt Pacers

Ise The By Boy gave Scott Zeron his second C$100,000 OSS Championship in the 3-year-old pacing colt division to conclude the 2010 Grassroots season. In an exciting finish Ise The By Boy reached the wire first to defeat Good Bad Lucky and This Is Wyatt.

Trained by Murray Brethour for owners Kevin Isaac, Steve Boyce, Jack Pearson and Wayne Kilner, Ise The By Boy has five wins in 21 attempts this year for just under C$100,000 earned. He is a son of Mach Three.