Ontario’s talented three-year-old trotting fillies put on an impressive show for Grand River Raceway fans on Friday evening, delivering some expected results along with a few upsets.

Its All Magic delivered the biggest upset on the Grassroots program, going gate-to-wire in a 10th race contest that saw the fans’ top two choices finish at the back of the pack.

Starting from Post 5 driver Scott Coulter sent Its All Magic straight to the front and the Kadabra daughter laid down fractions of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:28 before cruising home a six length winner in 1:58.4. Lightly rated Radical Dreamer finished second and Movement rounded out the top three. Favourites Phoenix Goal and Stirling Abacus finished eighth and ninth.

Friday’s outing was just the fifth this season and the first victory of the year for Its All Magic, who is trained by Guelph, Ont. resident Philip Coole for his partner Donald Leschied of South Woodslee, Ont. The filly finished eighth and fourth in her first two sophomore Grassroots starts.Driver Stephen Byron and John Bax teamed up to deliver a pair of results that came as no surprise to Grassroots watchers.

In the first $24,000 division Byron fired Twin B Sensation out of Post 7 and never glanced back, hitting the wire one-half length ahead of the fans’ top choice Elin in 1:57.4. Northern Senorita finished nine and one-quarter lengths back in third.

Peterborough, Ont. resident Bax trains Twin B Sensation for his partners Glengate Farms of Campbellville, Ont. and Gaelic Stable of Sharon, Ont. Through three Grassroots starts the Ken Warkentin daughter now has one fifth, one second and one win for a point tally of 80.

In race eight Byron also used front end tactics to earn division point leader Majic Trend her third Grassroots trophy of the season. The Kadabra daughter cruised home a three and three-quarter length winner over De La Noche and Counter Pointe, halting the Grand River teletimer at 1:59.1.

Bax shares ownership of Majic Trend with Gordon Wright of Charlotte, Michigan. In 14 starts the filly has netted the partners five wins, three seconds, one third and earnings of $69,420.

Arthur, Ont. resident Trevor Henry, who is in a heated battle for top spot in the Ontario Sires Stakes driver’s standings, helped out his bid for the Lampman Cup title with two more Grassroots victories on Friday. Heading into Friday’s contest Henry was sitting third with 307 points, just two points behind leader Mike Saftic.

In the fourth race Henry teamed up with Scott Barr trainee Amber Kadabra to clock a 1:59.4 come from behind victory. The pair hit the wire two lengths ahead of Tymal Breezee and Noble Peace Prize.

Barr conditions Amber Kadabra for his wife Bethany Barr of Thamesford, Ont. and Kenneth Bryant of Dorchester, Ont. The 1:59.4 clocking was a personal best for the Kadabra daughter, who also has two seconds and one third to her credit in Grassroots action this summer.

Henry’s second appearance in the winner’s circle came with Stonebridge Sonata after the sixth race, but had to be shared with driver Aaron Byron and Out Of The Hat. The fillies hit the wire in lockstep and could not be separated by a magnifying glass in the photo, so racing officials declared a dead heat for the win. The duo was one-quarter length ahead of favourite Racing Dreams and stopped the teletimer at 2:00.3.

Dustin Jones trains Angus Hall miss Stonebridge Sonata for breeder Angie Stiller of Arva, Ont. and Artana Stables of St. Thomas, Ont., while Kadabra daughter Out Of The Hat is conditioned by Per Henriksen for Andrea Lea Racing Stables Inc. of Lakefield Gore, Que.

The quickest mile of the six Grassroots divisions was clocked by Can I Say in the 11th race. The Fourth And One daughter cruised home a three and one-half length winner over Dayplanner in 1:57. Gourmandine was five more lengths back in third.

Garrett Whelan trains and drives Can I Say for owner-breeders Terry and Clarence Devos of Langton, Ont. and James Whelan of Troy, Ont.

The three-year-old trotting fillies make their last regular season Grassroots stop at Hanover Raceway on Sept. 8 before the top 16 point earners return to Grand River Raceway for Semifinal action on Sept. 19. Next Friday, Sept. 7, Grand River Raceway kicks off its final Gold Series event of the season, welcoming the two-year-old pacing fillies for Gold elimination action.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Grand River Raceway.

(OSS)