Flamboro Downs fans were treated to five outstanding performances from the two-year-old pacing fillies in their last regular season Grassroots event on Wednesday
afternoon.
Four of the five $24,000 divisions were decided by less than one length, starting with the lightly rated EL Miss Aces, who got a neck in front of former Gold Series competitor Misty Moonstone (Peter Core) at the wire.
With Dave “Mr OSS” Wall in the race bike, EL Miss Aces floated away from Post 4 and landed in fifth spot on the rail. The pair sat sixth through most of the mile, but when five horses made a late charge up the outside, Wall and EL Miss Aces were able to advance to third by the top of the stretch, just two lengths behind early pacesetter Windsong Gentille (Brad Forward) and challenger Misty Moonstone.
Saving ground up the inside provided EL Miss Aces a tactical advantage in the stretch and the Aces N Sevens daughter was able to nab a neck victory in 1:58.4. Misty Moonstone took home the runner-up share and Windsong Gentille rounded out the top three.
Brian Eckenstein trains EL Miss Aces for Brianna Eckenstein of Denfield, Ont. Wednesday’s performance was the filly’s second victory in four lifetime starts, with her first win also occurring at Flamboro in an October 3 overnight.
With Brad Forward in the bike, Lyons Anitacol wrapped up the regular season atop the point standings with thrilling finish in the final Grassroots division, reeling in pacesetter St Lads Trixie (Simon Allard) in the final strides to earn a head victory in 1:56.3. Ten and a quarter lengths to the rear, Storms Never Last (Jody Jamieson) and Texas Star (Scott Coulter) battled to a deadheat for third.
Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, Ont. owns Lyons Anitacol, who captured four of five Grassroots starts and finished second in the other. The E Dees Cam daughter is trained by Bill Robinson and has banked $89,700 through her 10 race career.
In the only division that was decided by more than one length, Holiday Shopper delivered a gate-to-wire 1:59 decision to make the leap from thirty-first in the division standings to tenth. The Camluck miss hit the wire one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Lily Ellie (Dave Wall) and fan favourite Miss Maverick (Brad Forward).
Duke Sugg trains and drives Holiday Shopper for Robert and Randall Hutchison of North Ridgeville, Ohio, and has harnessed the filly in five Grassroots starts this season, netting one win, one second, one third and two fifth-place finishes for a total of 97 points.
The other two Grassroots divisions went to Show Girl (Doug McNair) and Give The Gift (Brad Forward), who both halted the Flamboro Downs teletimer at 1:58.3.
The top 16 point earners from the six regular season contests will now prepare for the October 23 Grassroots Semifinals at Rideau Carleton Raceway, which will determine the eight starters for the $100,000 Grassroots Championships on November 1.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click here.
(With files from OSS)