Driver Jody Jamieson had the magic touch at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday evening, capturing six of eight freshman Grassroots Semifinals
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Canada’s leading reinsman got off to a quick start in the first $30,000 Semifinal, piloting two-year-old trotting filly Canada Cool to a track record victory in 1:59.1. Starting from Post 3, Canada Cool fired off the starting gate like an aged pacer and was at the quarter pole in :27.3. The filly cruised along on the front end to a :57.3 half and a 1:27.3 three-quarters before digging in down the stretch to secure her fourth lifetime victory, holding off challenger Ipromisenottotell (Joe Hudon, Jr.) by three-quarters of a length.
Excellence (Doug Brown) finished third, with Daylon Mission (Wayne Henry) rounding out the qualifiers for next Sunday’s $100,000 Final.
Jamieson engineered Canada Cool’s triumph for trainer Mark Steacy of Lansdowne and owners Katherine Steacy of Lansdowne, David Reid of Glenburnie, Ont., Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing of Campbell River, B.C. and Joe Loring of Canmore, Alta. The Angus Hall miss finished up the Grassroots regular season atop the two-year-old trotting filly standings with 175 points earned through two wins and three seconds.
Steacy has started Canada Cool at Rideau Carleton Raceway three times, and the talented youngster has posted three victories, with Friday’s Semifinal triumph eclipsing the 2:01.2 personal best she posted in an overnight event at the Ottawa oval on August 28.
Canada Cool’s stablemate J M Annie captured the second trotting filly Semifinal, delivering an impressive effort that saw her recover from an early break to reel in pacesetter Onehallofawoman (Gord Brown) in the stretch.
Steve Byron piloted J M Annie to the 2:02.1 victory for Steacy and owners Landmark II Racing Stable of Elginburg, David Reid of Glenburnie, George Judson of Athens and David McDonald of Cornwall, Ont. The Angus Hall filly hit the wire one length ahead of pocket sitter J M Gold Digger (Trevor Henry). Pacesetter Onehallofawoman, owned by Ottawa resident Mel Hartman, faded to third, and Photogenic Filly (Ron Waples) rounded out the top four.
J M Annie earned her post season berth with one win, one second, two fourths and one fifth in the regular season for a total of 96 points and sole ownership of fourteenth spot in the division standings.
Jamieson returned to the winner’s circle in the third Grassroots division, piloting pacing colt points leader Warrawee Lad to a 1:55.1 triumph for trainer Bill Robinson and owners Frank Loyens of Denfield and Harry Loyens of Ilderton, Ont. The Million Dollar Cam son led from start to finish, cruising under the wire three and three-quarter lengths ahead of P L Dangerous (Robert Sheperd). Luckamotion (Gord Brown) was seven lengths to the rear in third and Mcmaverick (Brad Forward) was 12 lengths back in fourth.
Ontario Sires Stakes driver’s colony leader Brad Forward eked out a 2:00.3 victory in the fourth Semifinal with trotting colt Scotty Doesnt Know, before Jamieson continued his dominant performance over a track that had been downgraded from fast to good.
Teaming up with Robinson for a second time, Jamieson guided pacing filly Windsong Gentille to a hard fought 1:57.4 victory over Misty Moonstone (Peter Core) in the seventh race. The Modern Art daughter hit the wire half a length ahead of Misty Moonstone, with Vibrent Ally (Dave Wall) and Holiday Shopper (Duke Sugg) less than two lengths back in third and fourth.
Breeder Bill Loyens of London, Harry Loyens of Ilderton and Vito Frijia of London, Ont. share ownership on Windsong Gentille, who finished second in the Grassroots standings with 212 points earned through four wins and one third. Windsong Gentille was just 13 points behind her stablemate Lyons Anitacol, who was an effortless winner in the other pacing filly Semifinal.
Jamieson eased Lyons Anitacol off the starting gate from Post 2, but was quickly on the move with the E Dees Cam miss, hitting the halfway marker with a one length lead. The pair sailed home three and a half length winners in 1:58.1, besting All Chocolate (Scott Zeron) and Give The Gift (Brad Forward). Modern Music (Steve Byron) earned her way into the Championship round with a fourth-place effort.
Lyons Anitacol captured four of her five regular season Grassroots starts, finishing second in the other, for a total of 225 points.
Jamieson’s other Semifinal victories came aboard trotting colt Krakatoa, who was a four length winner in 2:02, and pacing colt Twin B Warrior, who hustled up the outside to a 1:56.1 victory.
The top four finishers from each Semifinal will now begin preparations for their respective $100,000 Grassroots season finales on November 1. They will be joined by the top three-year-old trotters and pacers, who square off in Semifinal action over the Rideau Carleton Raceway oval on Sunday evening at 6:30 p.m.
(With files from OSS)