Major Herbie Part Of Henry Grand Slam

It was a profitable day for the Henry family as Woodstock Raceway’s 2010 Ontario Sires Stakes season wrapped up on Saturday. Trainer-driver Wayne Henry landed two horses in the Grassroots winner’s circle and finished third with another, brother Trevor Henry piloted a colt trained by his wife Shannon Henry to a win, and their nephew Nick Henry picked up one win and a second.

Wayne Henry scored his first victory in the fourth race, guiding Major Herbie to a 2:03.3 victory over P C La Mousse (Ross Battin) and Ready To Cruise (Mario Baillargeon). The horseman engineered the victory for his partners in the Henry Stable of Arthur, ON and Daniel McCann of Parkhill, ON. Through six starts the Here Comes Herbie son has three wins — two Grassroots and one Gold elimination — to his credit and earnings of $62,075.

The Arthur resident was back in front of the Woodstock track photographer following the last Grassroots division, posing with victor Reelie, who bested Frenchmen, trained and driven by Nick Henry, and High Stakes Banker (Terry Kerr) by three lengths in the 2:04.3 mile.

The recent addition of trotting hopples clearly gave Reelie the additional stability he required, allowing him to record his first flawless race mile of the season. The Henry Stable and Mike Mattine of Burlington, ON share ownership on Reelie, a son of Duke Of York and Reel It In.

Husband and wife team Trevor and Shannon Henry of Arthur teamed up to win the seventh race with Starlitestarbrite, who hit the wire in 2:04.4. Look Dont Talk (Randy Fritz) finished three-quarters of a length back in second and Deweys Timesr Good, in rein to Wayne Henry, picked up the third-place spoils.

The win was Starlitestarbrite’s first in six attempts and boosts the Angus Hall son’s earnings to $25,395 for owners Trevor Henry and Daniel McCann.

Nick Henry’s moment in the spotlight came in the sixth race when he and New Favorite romped around the Woodstock oval so far in front it might as well have been a training mile. When the pair hit the wire they were 24 lengths ahead of Put Your Dukes Up (Robert Shepherd) and Revonah Hanover (Mario Baillargeon).

The 2:02.4 victory was the second straight in Grassroots action for Holy Guacamolie son New Favorite. Mount Forest, ON resident Nick Henry trains the gelding for his partners Robin O’Toole and David Devine, also of Mount Forest.

The two-year-old trotting colts now make their way to Georgian Downs for their second last regular season Grassroots contest on September 28.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada & OSS)