Two-year-old trotting colts and geldings flooded the entry box at Kawartha Downs for Thursday’s card, which featured seven divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes for Grassrooters
. Three of the divisions were won by sons of Kadabra
Ill Be There kicked off the action with a gate-to-wire score for Team Jamieson in a career-best clocking of 1:59.4. Jody Jamieson hustled the son of Kadabra to immediate command from Post 3 and the colt successfully chopped out splits of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:30 en route to his second lifetime victory. Coe Leader was second best, with third prize going to Tymal Stellar.
Trainer Carl Jamieson of Princeton shares ownership on the colt with Tom Kyron of Toronto, ON, and together they’ve watched the youngster bank $30,250 to date. Jamieson also trained the colt’s stakes-winning dam, Disco Inferno (1:59.1 - $158,273).
Jake Be Nimble, who was scooped up for a mere $2,900 from last year’s Fall Extravaganza Mixed Sale, picked up his second consecutive OSS Grassroots score for trainer/driver Rick Zeron. The son of Oaklea Julian-Edith Royale threw down fractions of :29.1, 1:01 and 1:31.3 before finishing off his foes with a :30.2 closing quarter. Mutinyonthebounty was 3-1/2 lengths in arrears, with third-place going to Bell Kat Kadab.
Terry Hunter of Cambridge, ON owns the ridgling, who now boasts a 2-1-0 record in five starts. The $12,000 payday increased his earnings to $41,860.
Pocket Passer was a maiden-breaking winner in the third division for the tandem of driver Ross Battin and trainer Mike Keeling. Battin rallied the son of Ken Warkentin-Pocketfulloviolets to the 13-1 upset in a time of 2:02.1. San Pietro, who was sent off as the 3-5 favourite, had to settle for second while Northern Triumph was third.
P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc of Cambridge, ON and Jim Winske of Marlborough, MA share ownership on the rookie who was purchased for $9,000 at last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale. He has stashed away just over $19,000 in his first three starts.
The Golden Child notched his first-ever stakes victory and the second overall win of his career in the fourth division for trainer/driver Mark Etsell. The son of Striking Sahbra-Vision Of Gold enjoyed a ground-saving trip in the early stages of mile before being cut loose and drawing away from the competition. His margin of victory was 9-3/4 lengths over The Northern Dude in 2:00.3. Windsong Illusion rounded out the top three in the $24,000 tilt.
Etsell shares ownership on the homebred, who was sent off as the even-money favourite, with Neil Spahr, Rob Newton and Bruce Newton. They’ve collectively watched the colt put $19,880 on his card in four starts.
Strike The Cheque entered Thursday’s fifth division as a two-time OSS Grassroots winner, and he went home a three-time winner thanks to his 2:03.4 score. The duo of driver Ross Battin and trainer Mike Keeling, who triumphed earlier with Pocket Passer, watched him rally to the two-length decision over Mikey Hanover, with House Money taking home third prize.
Keeling co-owns the homebred with Ron Keeling of Owen Sound and Paula Wellwood of Cambridge, ON. They’ve watched the juvenile assemble a 3-1-0 record in five starts while banking $42,275 in the process.
Southwind Nazareth was second in back-to-back OSS Grassroots events going into Thursday’s assignment, but he went home a winner for the first time thanks to a narrow score in 2:03 for the team of driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Shane Arsenault. The son of Kadabra-New York To Paris took over command in the backstretch and opened up a solid lead before holding on to win by a neck over Keystone Orion. Dnieper grabbed the show dough.
Arsenault shares ownership on the colt with his father, Lou Arsenault of Freelton, ON, and together they’ve watched the $25,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale assembled a 1-3-0 record in five tries while stashing away $30,000 along the way.
Midfield Magic was treated to a second-over trip in his pari-mutuel debut, and the son of Kadabra-Midori Hanover didn’t let it go to waste. Doug Brown rallied the Frank O’Reilly trainee to a nose victory over Warrawee Nimby in 2:03. Yackety Yak tagged along and finished third.
Sent off as the 8-5 favourite, Midfield Magic got the job done for Franco Cianci, Isidoro Russo, Vincenzo Monticciolo and John Fielding. The $25,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale is a half brother to Celtic Warrior (1:54 - $281,560).
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Kawartha Downs.