Trevor Henry missed a few Ontario Sires Stakes races while he was representing Canada at the World Driving Championships in France, but the Arthur, Ont. resident made up for lost time at Georgian Downs on Saturday night.
Henry, a two-time winner of the Ontario Sires Stakes driving title, posted his first win of the evening in the third $12,857 Grassroots division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, piloting Lucky King to a commanding five length margin in a sharp 1:54.1. The win was the Camluck colt’s second in Grassroots action and was the quickest of the seven divisions contested over the Georgian Downs oval on Saturday. Andrew McCabe conditions Lucky King for Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Guelph and Leonard LC Christopher of Acton.
In the fifth division Henry and Mach Stockn Barrel gave fans a thrilling finish as they reeled in pacesetter and former Grassroots division winner Cheeky Fool in the stretch and hit the wire in a dead-heat. The colts stopped the teletimer at 1:56, one and three-quarter lengths ahead of fan favourite Major Homer.
Rockwood resident Rob Fellows trains Mach Three colt Mach Stockn Barrel for his partners Synerco Ventures Inc. of Toronto and Blair Corbeil of Beaumont, Alta. Western Maverick son Cheeky Fool is trained by Clifford Hill for Joshua Wade Jamieson of Hagersville and was driven to his second Grassroots victory by Scott Young.
Henry’s final victory came aboard Major Starlight in the final division. Once again employing come-from-behind tactics, Henry and the Major In Art son hit the wire two lengths on top in 1:55. Trainer Allen Tomlinson and Thomas Phillips of Michigan share ownership of Major Starlight.
The other Grassroots division winners were Rather Swell (Brad Forward, 1:54.4), Warrior Call (Paul MacDonell, 1:57.3), Victor Bayama (Yves Filion, 1:56.2), and Phillips Seelster (Forward, 1:55).
The two-year-old pacing colts will make their third Grassroots start at Hanover Raceway on July 20. On Tuesday, July 9 the two-year-old pacing fillies make their second straight Grassroots start at Georgian Downs. Post time for the first division is 7:25 p.m.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.
(With files from OSS)