MILTON, Ont., Sept. 28, 2024 – Crack Shot was the popular victor of the Ontario Sires Stakes $75,000 Grassroots Final for freshman pacing colts with an impressive clocking of 1:52.1 over a muddy Woodbine Mohawk Park Saturday.
Leaving the gate, the Bettors Delight colt and driver Doug McNair settled into fourth heading into the first turn, but by the half-mile marker had advanced to overtake early leader Blue Bar (All Bets Off). With eventual runner-up Sauble Wilson (Betterthancheddar) and Blue Bar advancing on either side, Crack Shot powered home in :27 to capture his fourth rookie win. The race favourite returned $5.30 to backers.
“I didn’t know how he was going to race,” said McNair. “I thought Trevor [Henry] (Sauble Wilson) had the best horse in there other than ours, but we had a better position on them early and when I heard them coming in the first turn, I figured I had to give him a shot on the front and it worked out.”
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 won his first two early-summer starts in the OSS Grassroots Series but struggled in his next pair of efforts.
Trainer McNair cited a change of scenery and diligent veterinary care in Lexington as the reason for his turn-around, as illustrated by a solid qualifying start over The Red Mile and a winning return a week later (his most recent start) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a career best of 1:52.
“He raced so great last week,” said co-owner Brundle of that return. “And to see him race great again tonight in this mud – we’re just so happy with him.”
“It’s fantastic, I love it,” a jubilant Brundle added, speaking about the Ontario Sires Stakes program. “I just love this business, it’s amazing.”
Referring to the new opportunity for Grassroots champions to enter their divisional Super Final if the field doesn’t fill with the Gold Series top point-earners, McNair said Crack Shot could be in the field on Oct. 12.
“He’s a cocky little bugger, if you watch him strut around out there,” said McNair. “But other than that, he’s a versatile colt. He can race from the lead or race from off the pace, so we’re looking forward to racing him in the Super Final.”
FEATURED PHOTO: Crack Shot winning the Ontario Sires Stakes $75,000 Grassroots Final for freshman pacing colts on Sept. 28, 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
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