His name has been synonymous with trotting stars in the provincial program over the years, and three of his sons did him proud on Sunday evening.
Agusto, Dr Cal and Overdraft were Angus Hall’s winners, and by virtue of their victories they each earned 50 points to put towards the race to this year’s OSS Grassroots Semi-Finals.
It was a coast-to-coast score for Agusto, who chopped out splits of :29, :59.4 and 1:29.1 for driver Steve Byron en route to a 1:59.3 performance. It was more than five lengths back to runner-up Mannerheim, with third-place finisher Striking Fury beaten seven lengths. John Bax trains the gelding for the partnership of Bob Anderson of St. Thomas and Gwendolyn and Ronald Bowman of Nobel, Ontario. The gelding, who has banked in excess of $44,000 to date, is now 3-for-11 this season.
Driver Doug McNair and trainer Bob McIntosh teamed up to win with Dr Cal, who turned a two-hole trip into a three-length win in his $24,000 assignment. The colt stalked Bacio Hanover through fractions :29.2, 1:01.4 and 1:31.1 before going on the attack. Dr Cal’s final quarter speed of :29.4 was more than enough to propel him to the 2:01.1 score. Bacio Hanover was second and Lukas Rossi finished third. Robert McIntosh Sables Inc., C S X Stables and Dave Boyle share ownership on the career winner of $34,230.
A two-hole trip also produced Angus Hall’s final winner, Overdraft, who drew off to win by two lengths in a time of 2:01.4 for driver Brad Rae and trainer Eric Adams. The gelding hauled down Striking Ty, who set the pace and finished second, and race favourite Now You See Him. Millar Farms of Newmarket, Ontario, who bred the gelding, and Glengate Farms share ownership on the career winner of $30,580.
It was a son of Mr Lavec named P L Cooper who took the opening division in 2:00.2 for the team of driver Dan Clements and trainer Marty Fine. The homebred gelding, who is owned by Prince Lee Acres of Uxbridge, Ontario, used a :29.3 closing kick to propel himself to the driving away victory over Oaklea Rico and Anahar Buster. It was the second consecutive win for P L Cooper, who has banked $27,886 in his career.
The final split went to the Kadabra gelding Yoho Kadabra and catch-driver Steve Byron in 1:58.1 – the quickest clocking of the divisional winners. The Emma Frieze trainee, who is owned by Fintec Stables of Hamilton, Ontario, led through fractions of :29, :59 and 1:27.4 before coasting home in :30.3 to seal the deal over H S Blaze and Pembrook Street. It was the gelding’s second lifetime victory, and the $12,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $31,774.
The next OSS Grassroots event for the three-year-old trotting colts and geldings will be hosted by Sudbury Downs on August 12.