Odds-on favourite Halo Its Me ground past tempo-setter Blue Magic to trot the fastest mile of the four Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday, July 16 at Georgian Downs.
Away fifth at the quarter, Halo Its Me stalked Blue Magic as she battled with Checkmate Titan, who left from post 9, for the top through a :27.4 first quarter. Checkmate Titan remained parked through a :56.4 half and backed through the field approaching three-quarters in 1:25.4. Halo Its Me ranged wide moving towards the final turn to race within a length of the lead before powering to a two-length advantage through the stretch to stop the clock in 1:56.3. Blue Magic settled for second while Petro Hall rallied for third.
A homebred for trainer Connie Chisholm and David Chisholm, Halo Its Me won her third race from eight starts, earning $28,045. The daughter of Archangel paid $3.80 to win.
Splurge On Me followed with a near-wire-to-wire effort in the second OSS Grassroots split, taking control past a :27.4 quarter to equal the fastest time of the night with a 1:56.3 mile.
Driver Steve Byron circled the Kadabra filly to the front while Champagne Jane yielded for the pocket. Aim high Hanover came first over from fourth moving towards a :58.1 half and drew within a length of the lead passing three-quarters in 1:27.2. Splurge On Me turned away the challenge and strolled through the stretch to finish a length better than Champagne Jane with P L Molly three lengths back in third.
A homebred for Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. and C S X Stables, Splurge On Me won her sixth race from 10 starts this season and her eighth from 20 overall, earning $90,612. Robert McIntosh trains the $3.10 winner.
Driver Scott Young swept Abysnthe Hanover to the top rounding the final turn to win the third OSS Grassroots division by three lengths in 1:56.4. The Kadabra filly sat off a clip of :28 and :57.3 set by Magically Hip, who gave way to the even-money favourite approaching three-quarters in 1:26.3. Absynthe Hanover rolled through the stretch chased by Mattys Smilin, who tracked cover to finish second, and Royal Rhythm rallying from last for third.
Trained by Luc Blais for owner Determination, Absynthe Hanover won her fifth race from 10 starts, earning $45,154. She paid $4.00 to win.
Order Mattie faced little pressure when wiring the final OSS Grassroots field in 1:59.1. Securing command from post 6, trainer-driver Doug Brown had the Angus Hall filly rolling through fractions of :28.4, 1:00.3 and 1:29. Madam Shazam mounted a bid from last nearing the stretch drive and zipped towards the pacesetter to finish second by a half length. Pocket-sitter Victoriahasasecret finished third.
Owned by Todd Coleman and Jackson Wittup, Order Mattie won her third race from six starts this season and her fourth from 17 overall, earning $47,153. She paid $14.50 to win.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Georgian Downs.