July 2, 2024
By Ontario Sires Stakes Communications
DRESDEN, Ont., July 1, 2024 – The Ontario Sires Stakes 50th Anniversary tour headed to Dresden Raceway Monday as part of the track’s Canada Day celebrations, highlighted by a pair of $20,000 Grassroots Series races for three-year-old trotting colts and an $8,000 Prospect Series race for sophomore trotting colts.
The Grassroots series events were highlighted by The Canam Banker’s (The Bank) record-breaking trot in Race 4.
Bred by Winbak Farm (Chesapeake City, Md.), owned by Michael Marocco (Livona , Mich.) and Victory Puddy (Mountain, Ont.), and trained by Puddy, The Canam Banker won his Grassroots Series race by 9-1/2 lengths, setting a new Dresden Raceway track record for three-year-old male trotters, clocking in at 1:59 to eclipse the old record of 1:59.3 set by Starsel (Angus Hall) in 2006.
“He is a very fast horse,” said Tyler Borth, who drove The Canam Banker, Monday. “Sometimes he can get a little grabby and he’s kind of hard to drive, but Victor’s just got him going really good right now and he’s really calm to drive. He doesn’t want to run away like he used to, and it’s made my job a lot easier.”
The Canam Banker began his trot with a :30.4 first quarter and really began to up his lead by the halfway point, coming around the first lap in 1:00.4. He made it to the three-quarter mark in 1:30 and then exploded down the final quarter in 29 seconds to set the new record.
The second Grassroots Series division saw Royal Duharas (Royalty For Life) win in a time of 2:02.
Trained by Robert Kyle Fellows, and owned and bred by Haras De L Estrie Inc. (Dunham, Que.), Royal Duharas jumped out to an early lead and then never looked back, posting times of :30.2, 1:03.3 and 1:33.4 before finishing things off with a :28.1 final quarter.
The victory was Royal Duharas’s third straight win overall, all with driver Loic Gueriel in the bike seat.
“He raced very well at Kawartha Downs, and we beat a very good horse in Hesohot Hanover, too,” Loic said. “So, while I was concerned, he went [1:56.3] last time. So, while I’m not very confident when I come here [Dresden Raceway], I know he’s a good horse.”
The afternoon of racing kicked off Monday with Race 1’s Prospect Series event and favourite Slayin Theday Away (Muscle Mass) scoring a victory there in 2:05 for driver Eddie Green, trainer Keelan Green, and owner and breeder Celestey Hill (Ohsweken, Ont.).
This was Slayin Theday Away’s fourth straight Prospect Series win, extending his overall points lead over the rest of the division.
In addition to the action on the track, Dresden Raceway fans were also treated to 50th Anniversary celebrations that included hat giveaways, historical displays, a commemorative cake, kids’ activity books and more.
The Ontario Sires Stakes 50th Anniversary tour next makes its way to Clinton Raceway on Sunday, July 7.
Complete results from Monday’s program are available here and replays can be viewed on the Dresden Raceway Youtube channel.
FEATURED PHOTO: The Canam Banker cruising to a record-setting win at Dresden Raceway on Monday, July 1, 2024 (Cam Sinasac)
IN-LINE PHOTO 1: Royal Duharas crossing the finish line in first at Dresden Raceway on Monday, July 1, 2024 (Cam Sinasac)
IN-LINE PHOTO 2: Slayin Theday Away winning Race 1 at Dresden Raceway on Monday, July 1, 2024 (Cam Sinasac)
IN-LINE PHOTO 3: Kids’ colouring pages are displayed underneath the OSS 50th Anniversary timeline at Dresden Raceway on Monday, July 1, 2024 (Ontario Sires Stakes)
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