June 1, 2024
By Ontario Sires Stakes Communications
LONDON, Ont., May 31, 2024 – The Raceway at Western Fair District played host to four OSS Grassroots series races Friday that included a thrilling finish in the final race of the evening on Camluck Classic night.
The $150,000 Camluck Classic was won by HELLABALOU with Louis-Phillipe Roy in the bike seat. The six-year-old is being trained by Ronald Burke, is owned by Burke Racing Stable (Fredericktown, Pa.), Eric Good (Davidsonville, Md.), Weaver Bruscemi Llc. (Canonsburg, Pa.), and Lawrence Karr (Randolph, N.J.), and bred by Andray Farm (Punxsutawney, Pa.) and Sergent Stables (Blairsville, Pa.).
Two of the four Sires Stakes races were selected to close the evening out at The Raceway Friday, with Race 12 of the 12-race card finishing things out in style as 7-1 longshot LOGAN BEHOLD (ALL BETS OFF), found strong finishing kick down the final stretch and come away with the win in the $20,000 race for three-year-old pacing colts.
LOGAN BEHOLD is trained by Joseph MacIsaac, owned by Kimberly Eaton (Brockville, Ont.) and Jamie Copley (Kenmore, Ont.), bred by Eaton and, on Friday, was driven by London, Ont., native Tyler Borth
“I started in the eight-hole, so I knew that there really wasn’t much I could do off of the gate, but I knew that [LOGAN BEHOLD] is fast, so I thought if I just save his kick for the last quarter then we should have a decent chance.”
Driver James MacDonald had another memorable night, winning two of the four OSS races Friday, and four overall on the evening.
MacDonald was able to score OSS Grassroots wins with CHALK HANOVER (BETTORS DELIGHT) and LAKERS BANK (ALL BETS OFF) in Races 4 and 11, both for three-year-old pacing colts.
“I was a James MacDonald fan before everybody was a James MacDonald fan,” said CHALK HANOVER trainer Dave Menary. “I’ve believed in his driving for a long time, and he’s always been a good driver. But over the last couple of years he’s just taken it to the next level.”
CHALK HANOVER is trained by Menary, owned by Menary Racing Inc. (Rockton, Ont.), and Anthony Timmins (Birmingham, G.B.), and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. (Hanover, Pa.). LAKERS BANK, who didn’t race as a two-year-old and won his first-ever OSS start Friday, is trained by Tim Myers, owned by Val Spar Stables (West Hill, Ont.), and bred by Lara Lake-Nontell (Elgin, Ont.).
MacDonald also won the $15,000 London Classic Sale – Preferred Trot in Race 7 with R ROYAL PORT (ARCHANGEL) and Race 9’s $50,000 Forest City Invitational Pace with an eight-year-old SO MUCH MORE (BIG JIM).
The evening of OSS action began with Race 3, with #20,000 on the line for three-year-old pacing colts.
The Lee Cullen (Ottawa, Ont.)-, Lloyd Howley (Kars, Ont.)-owned, Howley-bred SPORTS ACTIVATOR (SPORTSWRITER) scored the first OSS victory of the evening with Brett MacDonald driving him into the winner’s circle.
“I told [Brett MacDonald] that [SPORTS ACTIVATOR] is pacing real good and in the race he should be fine,” said SPORTS ACTIVATOR trainer Michael Armstrong.
Friday’s event also saw the OSS 50th Anniversary celebration roll into The Raceway at Western Fair District. A booth was setup celebrating the history of the Sires Stakes.
This was the last race at The Raceway this year until October.
Complete results from Friday’s program are available here (LINK: https://standardbredcanada.ca/racing?active_tab=entries) and replays can be viewed on The Raceway at Western Fair District website (LINK: https://www.theracewaywfd.com/live-replay-video).
FEATURE IMAGE: HELLABALOU won the 2024 Camluck Classic at The Raceway at Western Fair District (Photo credit: Todd Gimblett)
IN-LINE PHOTO: SO MUCH MORE (Photo credit: Todd Gimblett)
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