(Photo of driver Phil Hudon and Flaherty courtesy of New Image Media)
Ontario’s talented three-year-old pacing colts and geldings returned to Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening for their second Grassroots start and Continual Hanover jumped out to an early lead in the division point race with his second straight victory.
Starting from Post 1 in the fourth Grassroots split, the Bettors Delight son and driver Jody Jamieson cruised through fractions of :26.4, :54.4 and 1:23.4 on their way to a 1:52 victory, a new personal best for Continual Hanover. Derecho finished one length back in second and Levy Taylore was two more lengths to the rear in third.
“He’s a top Grassroots horse,” said Moffat, ON resident Jamieson. “He just does whatever I ask, so far, and only what I ask.”
Cambridge, ON resident Jack Darling owns and trains Continual Hanover who is two-for-two in 2016. The colt was also a two-time Grassroots winner at two and captured a Gold Series division at the end of his freshman season. Friday’s victory pushed the colt’s lifetime earnings to $126,400, completing repayment of his $120,000 purchase price from the 2014 Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Fan favourite Inspiration View kicked off the Grassroots action in Race 4, holding off a charging Wichita Lineman by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.2. Vegas Dream rounded out the top three.
Arthur, ON resident Trevor Henry guided Inspiration View to the win, the Shadow Play colt’s second of the season, for trainer Murray Brethour of Sunderland, ON and owners Rick Phillips of Tappan, NY, Peter Venturini of Rockaway, NJ and Mark Harder of Freehold, NJ. The winner of $89,729 was also a Grassroots winner at Mohawk as a two-year-old.
In the second $18,000 Grassroots division Flaherty overcame a break behind the gate — which triggered a recall — to score his first Ontario Sires Stakes victory. The Up the Credit son and driver Phil Hudon led the field through fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25.2 and then waged a fierce battle through the stretch against fan favourites Arsenic and driver Doug McNair. The duelling colts hit the wire separated by a neck in 1:52.4 with Blaise Mm Hanover two lengths back in third.
“He’s a nice colt; he had good fractions and paced home really well. I thought he was beat coming out of the turn, then he fought Doug’s (McNair) horse off and won,” said Guelph, ON resident Hudon. “He’s a handy horse and a big strong colt.”
Bill Budd of Waterdown, ON conditions Flaherty for his partners Mack Stable and Joe Carnovale of Stoney Creek, ON. The gelding now boasts a record of six wins, three seconds and two thirds in 16 sophomore starts, for earnings of $79,620.
It was Steven Hudon’s turn to hoist a Grassroots trophy in the third division as the Erin, ON resident piloted Red Dog Saloon to a come-from-behind victory. The duo roared up the outside to catch Chalk Player and Brookdale Sonny in a personal best 1:52.1.
Hudon also owns and trains Mister Big son Red Dog Saloon, who boosted his sophomore record to five wins, one second and one third in 13 starts for earnings of $29,183.
The final Grassroots trophy of the evening was awarded to Perseverant, who spoiled Jamieson’s hopes of a driving double by reeling in fan favourite St Lads Moonwalk in the stretch. Perseverant hit the wire a neck in front of St Lads Moonwalk and one-half length ahead of A Bettors Risk in a personal best 1:52.
Milton, ON resident Sylvain Filion piloted Perseverant to his second straight win for trainer Luc Blais of Lochaber Ouest, QC and Determination of Montreal, QC.
The three-year-old pacing colts and geldings will make their third Grassroots start at Hanover Raceway on July 30.
Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday evening, with the Gold Series three-year-old pacing colts and geldings squaring off in two $105,000 divisions. The second division features both North America Cup champion Betting Line and the OSS “Be A Winner” contest, which will see one lucky fan join in the winner’s circle celebrations. The first race goes postward at 7:30 pm and the sophomore pacing colts and geldings will be featured in Races 6 and 8.
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