Upgrade doubled up in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series as Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted the second leg for three-year-old trotting fillies on an eventful Friday, June 19 card that featured Canada's first two-year-old pari-mutuel race winner amid a perfect five-win night for driver Doug McNair and a training triple for Kyle Fellows.

Following up on a victory in the May 17 opening leg of the Grassroots at Flamboro Downs, driver Todd Ratchford looped the Matt Bax trainee Upgrade to the lead after a :28.1 quarter and the even-money favourite cruised through middle splits of :58.4 and 1:27.4 en route to the 2-1/4-length triumph in a new lifetime mark of 1:56 flat. Winless in eight starts as a two-year-old, the Green Manalishi S-Uptown Classic filly is now three-for-10 this year for owners Al Libfeld of Pickering, Ont., and Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. Arkona Seelster (Tyler Borth) advanced first-over to finish second just ahead of the closing HP Imagine (James MacDonald). 

Bella Chica, a Prospect Series champion as a two-year-old and runner-up to Upgrade in this year's Grassroots opening leg, won the fastest of the three $25,000 Grassroots divisions in round two as the even-money second choice retook command down the backstretch then opened up an insurmountable lead en route to establishing a new lifetime mark of 1:55.1 with Bob McClure in tow. The Lookslikeachpndale-Wheely Tricky filly is a homebred for trainer Corrie German and Brenda German of Clinton, Ont. Longshots Rare Legacy (Tyler Borth) and Finley (Scott Coulter) rounded out the top three finish order.

The other Grassroots division was won by 6-5 favourite Canukeepasecret (Muscle Mass-More Magic), who made up for a miscue in the opening leg with a four-length romp in a new mark of 1:56 for driver Travis Cullen, trainer Jeff Williams and owners Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont., Tyrone Valley Farm of Bowmanville, Ont., and Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson, Que. Press On Ballykeel (Tyler Borth) inherited second over a rough-gaited Kenogami Bellini (James MacDonald).

Doug McNair enjoyed a perfect night in sulky, winning all five of his drives. He won the first four races on the card then had to wait until the 12th race finale for his last drive. The Kyle Fellows-trained Fan Hanover starter Easy Station made it worth the wait, winning in a career-best 1:50.1 by 2-1/4 lengths lengths over sophomore filly stablemate Pownal Bay Bobbi after a pair of their rookie roommates made successful debuts.

The Fellows-trained Three Six Zero became Canada's first two-year-old winner of the season in pari-mutuel racing action with a 1:58.4 wire-to-wire score in the third race, a $20,000 freshman colt trot. McNair guided Three Six Zero to the top in the first turn, hitting the quarter in :29.2 then the half in :59.1 and three-quarters in 1:29.4. Arm N Hammer (Bob McClure) chased inside as Three Six Zero drifted off the pylons in the stretch but steered clear approaching the wire with the pocket-pursuer finishing two lengths behind. 

Following a successful June 12 qualifier at Mohawk, Three Six Zero won at first asking for owners Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Ont., Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta., Windermere Stable of New York City, New York and Hopkins Porter of Chesley, Ont.  A full brother to multiple Grassroots winner Hot Country, the Muscle Mass-Feel Invincible As colt was a $69,444 yearling purchase from the Lexington Selected Sale. He was bred by Tara Hills Stud of Port Perry, Ont., Glenn Bechtel of Kingston, Ont., and Jon Brinkerhoff of Hilliard, Ohio.

Fellows also debuted the Sweet Lou-Beach Work filly Im Sweet On Lou, a 1:54.1 winner in the following race for two-year-old pacing fillies.

McNair also won the opener with the three-year-old pacing filly Twin B Fierce, trained by his father Gregg, taking a new lifetime mark of 1:52.3. The hot-handed reinsman completed a sweep of the early Daily Double with pacing mare Laneside Incontrol opening a Pop-Up Series with a 1:51.4 victory for trainer Murray Brethour.

The other $20,000 Pop-Up division was went to Sensationalize A, winning her second start in North America in 1:51 for Travis and Jodie Cullen. 

That conditioned series is for pacing fillies and mares that were starters for a purse of $12,000 or less in their last four starts (winners over $50,000 in 2026 are not eligible). 

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)