(Photo of Denis St. Pierre and Themanofmydreams courtesy of New Image Media)
Themanofmydreams scored his third straight Grassroots victory on Thursday evening at Mohawk Racetrack to take sole control of top spot in the two-year-old trotting colt Grassroots division.
In rein to Denis St. Pierre, the fan favourite got off to a slightly rocky start from Post 5 in the third $18,000 division, but quickly settled into fourth as Magic Night stepped out to a :28.2 opening quarter. After Magic Night, My Big Kadillac took a brief turn on the lead, but St. Pierre had Themanofmydreams on top before the :59.4 half. From there Themanofmydreams was in complete control, sailing through a 1:29.4 three-quarters and on to a 1:59.3 victory.
My Big Kadillac finished two and three-quarter lengths back in second and Magic Night was another length back in third.
“Tonight he give a little step at the gate, because he was too aggressive and I don’t want to leave with him,” said St. Pierre. “I want to take him off the gate, because last time he was too aggressive, not that crazy, but he show me he can become too hot and that’s why I try to take him off the gate.
“He got mad and he made a little step, but he come right back on the trot,” the Guelph, ON resident added. “He’s a good horse.”
The win was a new personal best for Themanofmydreams, who also captured his Grassroots divisions at Georgian Downs on July 9 and Grand River Raceway on July 20. The trio of victories have the son of Muscle Mass and Uneeda Dream sitting atop the freshman trotting colt standings with a perfect 150 points.
St. Pierre’s partner Tiffanee Staley of Guelph trains Themanofmydreams and shares ownership of the colt with Alexandre and Christian Pilon of St-Eustache, QC and Jesse Legault of Lorraine, QC. A $22,000 purchase out of the Canadian Yearling Sale last fall, Themanofmydreams has banked $27,000 in three starts.
“I think he’s just a great colt,” said St. Pierre. “I know he’s a good Grassroots, he prove it tonight. I think he’s one of the best, and maybe next week he’ll get a chance in the Gold. Just tonight he was a bit hyper, but he’s just a great colt, he do everything right, he’s got a lot of speed. He can go more than what he showed tonight.”
St. Pierre added that he and Staley would spend the next six days getting the colt to relax behind the starting gate before heading to Rideau Carleton Raceway on August 4, where both the Gold and Grassroots divisions will be contested.
“He likes to race, but he’s going to have to learn to calm down a little bit,” noted the driver. “We’re going to teach him.”
In the other divisions, both Many A Man and Warrawee Shipshape jumped up the point standings with their first Grassroots victories.
In the first split, Many A Man powered up the outer lane to claim a one-half length victory over fan favourite Rosberg in 1:59. Zorgwijk Rocket was three more lengths back in third.
Randy Waples of Milton piloted Many A Man to his first lifetime victory for trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor and his partners Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, ON and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH. The homebred son of Manofmanymissions and Armbro Sylvie finished in fifth in the Grassroots season opener at Georgian Downs and fourth in the July 20 event at Grand River Raceway.
“He trained down like a nice colt,” said McIntosh of the half-brother to $388,596 winner Dr Cal. “He was just a victim of bad luck in his first starts.”
The win gives Many A Man a record of one win in three starts and earnings of $11,340. At the midway point in the Grassroots regular season he sits fifth in the standings with 63 points.
In the second division, trainer-driver Eddie Green and fan favourite Warrawee Shipshape fired out of Post 6 and led the field through fractions of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:29.1 on his way to a three length victory in 1:59.4. A J Ricochet and Critical Mass trotted in to second and third.
The win was Warrawee Shipshape’s second lifetime and his first in Ontario Sires Stakes action. The son of Muscle Mass and U Can Cruise started his career in the Gold Series season opener at Georgian Downs on July 9, finishing sixth, and then dropped down to the Grassroots level for the Grand River Raceway event, where he finished second.
Ohsweken resident Green conditions Warrawee Shipshape for Michael Tobin of Port Dover, ON. A $19,000 purchase from last fall’s Canadian Yearling Sale, the gelding boasts a record of two wins, one second and earnings of $16,620 in four starts. His 75 Grassroots points are good enough for third in the standing with three regular season events remaining.
The two-year-old trotting colts, both Grassroots and Gold Series level, will make their next start at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday, August 4.
Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday, Aug. 2 with the third Gold Series Leg for the two-year-old trotting fillies. Post time is 7:30 pm.
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