Ontario’s three-year-old trotting colts have one last opportunity to qualify for the Grassroots post season on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Two local colts, Northern Matador and Cabertoss, currently sit among the top 20 point earners after the first five regular season events. To extend their Ontario Sires Stakes season both colts need a victory over the Rideau Carleton oval on Thursday; only the top 10 point earners will advance to the Sept. 21 Grassroots Championship.
Northern Matador has accumulated 67 points from one win, one fourth and three seventh-place finishes in Grassroots action and is currently ranked sixteenth. The Muscle Mass gelding will make his bid for a second victory from Post 5 in the first of four $18,000 divisions Thursday. From 10 sophomore starts the Mark Steacy trainee has two wins, one second and one third for earnings of $10,540. He posted a personal best 2:00.2 clocking at Rideau Carleton in a July 25 overnight event.
Clarke Steacy of Gananoque, Landmark V Racing Stable of Kingston, Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, AB and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. of Ossining, NY share ownership of Northern Matador.
From just three Grassroots starts, Cabertoss has one win and one fourth to his credit for 58 points and a number 18 ranking. William Murray Jr. of Mountain owns the Muscle Mass colt, and his father William Murray of Kingston trains.
Cabertoss will start from Post 6 in Thursday’s eleventh race, and heads into the test off a second-place result in an overnight event at Rideau Carleton on Aug. 29. In 11 starts this season the colt has delivered two wins and two seconds for earnings of $11,838.
The three-year-old trotting colts will be spotlighted in Races 2, 4, 8, and 11 on Rideau Carleton Raceway’s Thursday evening program, which gets under way at 6:30 p.m.
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To view entries for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Entries – Rideau Carleton Raceway.