MILTON, Ont., Oct. 12, 2024 – Crack Shot has not one but two Ontario Sires Stakes Championship victories to his credit in 2024.
The freshman pacer won Saturday’s $300,000 Gold Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park just two weeks after capturing the $75,000 Grassroots Final.
Crack Shot was the first-ever beneficiary of a new feature added to the provincial program which stipulated a Grassroots Series champion was entitled to enter the Super Final if the division didn’t fill with Gold Series top point-earners.
In tonight’s effort, he was fourth under cover heading into the stretch, and taken wide to pace home with driver Doug McNair one length the best in 1:51.3 – a new career best for the Bettors Delight son.
Pacesetter Sterling Choice (Louis-Phillippe Roy) was the runner-up, while race favourite Allstar Maniac (James MacDonald) was third. Crack Shot paid $7.40 for the win.
Purchased as a yearling for $205,000 at the Lexington Select Sale by trainer Gregg McNair and co-owners Frank Brundle, Dale Hunter and George Kerr, Crack Shot has won five of his eight rookie starts for total earnings of $238,000.
“Dad loved him all year,” Doug McNair said of Crack Shot following the race. “So, all the credit goes to him. He’s a great little horse to drive. I just wanted to keep him out of trouble tonight.”
“I was high on him all winter,” Gregg confirmed. “He was always a fast horse. I didn’t know how he would do with this bunch tonight. He has really come around.”
For co-owner Frank Brundle, the pair of championship wins has been a fun ride in a long relationship with the Gregg McNair Stable that began in 1986.
“To have Crack Shot blossom in the Grassroots Finals and now win the Super Final is amazing, just amazing.”
FEATURED PHOTO: Crack Shot winning the 2024 OSS Gold Super Final race for two-year-old pacing colts on Oct. 12, 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
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