from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Driver Randy Waples captured a pair of 3-year-old pacing colt Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots events at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening (July 31) with horses trained by one of his harness racing heroes.

“Growing up in this business, he’s the guy that everybody always wants to drive for, so when you find yourself lucky enough to be driving for him it’s a rush every time,” said Waples of Hall of Fame trainer Bob McIntosh. “I have my heroes in the business too, and being able to drive horses for a guy like that, it’s a rush.”

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Randy Waples steered 3-year-old pacing gelding Regal Sight to a 1:52.3 victory in Grassroots action at Mohawk.

Waples kicked off the Grassroots program with a win, steering Regal Sight to a 1:52.3 score from post six. The pair took control heading for the half and were never headed, sailing under the wire 1-1/4 lengths ahead of favorite Ace Of Clubs. The Fire Within was three lengths back in third.

“He raced really well,” said Waples. “He got a little hot behind the gate last week and made a break, but he was back to himself tonight.”

The win was the first this season for Regal Sight, who had posted one second and two thirds in the first three Grassroots events. McIntosh and his partners C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. bred and own the son of Stonebridge Regal and You See L A, who currently sits seventh in the division point race with 99.

Waples and McIntosh recorded their second victory in the fourth Grassroots division, with the driver giving Artful Way a come-from-behind steer.

Starting from post nine, Waples eased Artful Way onto the rail in fifth and waited until the three-quarter marker to shift into the outer lane behind fan favorite Southwind Indy. Turning for home 2-1/2 lengths behind leader Feeling Cam Lucky, Waples shifted Artful Way into high gear and the gelding powered down the stretch to get a head in front of Feeling Cam Lucky and Southwind Indy in 1:51.3.

“He’s been drawing horrible lately. He’s had a 10 and two nines his last three starts down here, so he hasn’t really been able to get into the race. Tonight he had his nose right on the gate and when I looked over there it looked like there was going to be a couple spots available, so it just really worked out good for him,” said Waples of the Artistic Fella son. “Usually if you can get him in the middle somewhere he doesn’t mind first over. He can grind away first over pretty good. He’s won two or three times like that.

“He can take a lot of air, he just seems not to get tired,” added Waples. “He’s got a big motor; a big motor and a big set of lungs.”

McIntosh bred and owns Artful Way, who was also a winner in the Grassroots season opener at Mohawk on June 2. In the other two Grassroots legs the gelding finished fifth and third, giving him a total of 117 points and sole ownership of fourth in the division standings with two regular season events remaining.

Bob Ben And John gave his connections a nice parting gift in the second Grassroots division. The Sportswriter gelding, who is entered in the Tattersalls Mixed Sale on Aug. 2, scored his first win of 2015 with a 1:53.3 front-end triumph over Windsong Lord and Halton Hurricane.

Steve Condren crafted the victory for trainer Casie Coleman and owners West Wins Stable and Adriano Sorella. Following the race Sorella took to Twitter to say farewell to the gelding: “Thanks for the memories Bob. Best of luck in your new home.”

Friday’s win boosted Bob Ben And John into eighth in the point race, making him a more attractive acquisition for a new owner hoping to participate in the Grassroots post season.

Sporting The Look also jumped up the standings with his victory in the third division. Another son of Sportswriter, Sporting The Look powered out of the pocket and past pacesetter Twin B Scandal to claim his second straight Grassroots win in a personal best 1:51.2. Mach Code rounded out the top three.

Jody Jamieson engineered the victory for his father Carl Jamieson and his partners 30 Plus Stable and Thomas Kyron. Two wins and one eighth in Grassroots competition give Sporting The Look 101 points, putting him in sixth.

The final Grassroots trophy of the evening was awarded to the connections of His Boy Elroy, who also used come-from-behind tactics to secure the victory. Mike Saftic urged His Boy Elroy down the stretch to a quarter-length win over Sugarsam and Make Some Luck in a personal best 1:51.4.

The Jereme’s Jet son is trained by Jean Guy Belliveau for Dan MacRae. Through three Grassroots starts the colt now has one win, one second and one eighth-place result for a total of 76 points.

The 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings will return to Mohawk Racetrack for the fifth Grassroots event of their season on Aug. 21.

Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to the Campbellville oval on Tuesday (Aug. 4) with three C$70,000 Gold Series divisions for the 2-year-old trotting fillies.