(Photo of driver Sylvain Filion and Silverinyourpocket courtesy of New Image Media)
On Friday evening the two-year-old pacing colts made their second Grassroots start at Mohawk Racetrack and Silverinyourpocket made the most of his second tour around the Campbellville oval.
Starting from Post 3 in the second $18,000 Grassroots division, driver Sylvain Filion of Milton sent Silverinyourpocket to the front. Through fractions of :28, :56 and 1:25 the fan favourites never faced a challenge, cruising down the stretch to a one and one-quarter length victory in 1:53.3. Aston Hill Dave and Kentucky Nick followed Silverinyourpocket into second and third.
“I look forward to the next couple starts, because he showed lots of potential today,” said trainer Richard Moreau, who took over training duties from owner David Ratchford in early July.
North Sydney, NS resident Ratchford qualified Silverinyourpocket twice over North Side Downs in June and then sent the Badlands Hanover colt to Moreau in time for the July 7 Grassroots opener. The colt finished a hard-closing third from Post 8 in the season opener and impressed Mohawk fans enough to earn favourite status on Friday.
“They deal with the horse back home in the Maritimes, and once they think they work well or they’re ready, they come my way, which is perfect,” said Moreau, who also trains $504,072 winner Ms Mac N Cheese for Ratchford.
“I talked to Sylvain, and he said he’s still green, but he likes him, no problems. I think he made me look good,” added the Puslinch-based trainer.
Silverinyourpocket was a $19,000 purchase out of the Forest City Yearling Sale last October and is the second foal from $195,252 winner Fillys Victory. With one win and one third, the colt currently sits atop the Grassroots standings with 62 points.
The third foal from regally-bred L A Confidential captured the first Grassroots division on Friday. Test Ride, a Mach Three son out of the full-sister to $1.9 million winner Thinking Out Loud, hit the wire one-half length ahead of Mach Déjà Vu and Tigers Way to earn his first victory.
Guelph resident Paul MacDonell piloted Test Ride to the 1:55.4 win for trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor and his partners Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington, ON and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH. The gelding was sixth in the Grassroots season opener, giving him a total of 53 points and a share of second spot in the standings along with the third Grassroots division winner, All It Takes.
Starting from Post 5, All It Takes left the gate strongly and driver Doug McNair had the gelding on the lead before the :56.3 half. All It Takes led the field to a 1:25.4 three-quarters and had enough in the tank to hold off a late charge from Filion and Moreau trainee One Source. Tremendous Play rounded out the top three in the 1:55.1 mile.
Gregg McNair of Guelph conditions All It Takes for his partners, and the gelding’s breeders, William Switala and James Martin of Clarence Center, NY. The son of Mach Three and Camber Hanover won two qualifiers at Mohawk in June, but struggled in his first two starts, finishing tenth in an overnight on June 27 and sixth in the July 7 Grassroots event.
“He qualified great,” said driver Doug McNair, “But he had some breathing troubles his last few starts. He got a little hot and we had to change equipment to quiet him down.
“He showed tonight he has a little go to him,” added the Guelph resident.
Friday’s division winners will look to pad their Grassroots point totals when the program stops at Georgian Downs for the third leg on August 9.
On Saturday evening Mohawk Racetrack welcomes the three-year-old trotting fillies and two-year-old pacing colts, each competing in a pair of $105,000 Gold Series divisions. The trotting fillies will square off in Races 2 and 3 while the pacing colts battle in Races 7 and 8. Racing gets under way at 7:30 pm.
More Industry News