Four of the heavyweights from the three-year-old pacing filly division squared off in the fourth of six Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots battles at Flamboro Downs on Sunday evening and Machet Rocket used a come from behind effort to keep her provincial record unblemished.

In a contest featuring division point leaders Machleen and Phoenix Seelster, the unbeaten Machet Rocket and last year’s division champion Eat Me Up, rail-sitter Silky Britches was the quickest off the starting gate, storming out to a :28 opening quarter. Silky Britches continued to lead at the :57.4 half, but Classy Lane Rose, Machet Rocket and Eat Me Up had all shifted into the outer lane and Classy Lane Rose had a short lead at the 1:26.1 three-quarters. Silky Britches battled back around the final turn and had regained the lead turning for home, but driver Daniel Clements had Machet Rocket in high gear and the fan favourite sprinted home to a two length victory in 1:55.2. Pocket-sitter Phoenix Seelster picked up the second place share of the $24,000 Grassroots purse and Classy Lane Rose paced into third.

Sunderland, Ont. resident Murray Brethour trains Machet Rocket for his partners, and the filly’s breeders, Noblock Racing Stable of Collingwood, Ont. and Fred Brayford of Alliston, Ont. Through 14 sophomore starts the daughter of Mach Three and Rocket Time boasts a record of six wins, one second and one third for earnings of $58,688. Machet Rocket is undefeated through three Grassroots starts and extended her overall win streak to six with Sunday’s victory.

Driving Miss Deo scored one of two 1:54 miles on the Grassroots program, going gate-to-wire from Post 4 in the seventh race. The Lis Mara daughter bested fan favourite Jet Speed by one and one-quarter lengths, while Tail R Swift finished seven and one-half lengths back in third.

Anthony MacDonald engineered the win for trainer David Menary of Cheltenham, Ont. and his partner Putnam Training Centre Ltd. of Mossley, Ont. Through five Grassroots starts Driving Miss Deo now has one win, two seconds and one third.

The other 1:54 mile was clocked by Hope For Paddy in the second last division. Starting from Post 5 the filly was 10 lengths off the pace in sixth when Insincerity and Jeremes Sweetheart reached the opening quarter in :27.2. Jeremes Sweetheart won the early battle and carried on to a :56.3 half and a 1:25.2 three-quarters, but driver Billy Davis Jr. had moved Hope For Paddy into the middle of the racetrack and taken aim on the finish line and the filly sprinted home to a three and one-half length victory. Jeremes Sweetheart stayed game for second with Insincerity rounding out the top three.

Shawn Robinson conditions Hope For Paddy for CMR Farms of Hagersville, Ont. The Mach Three daughter started her season at the Gold Series level and has one win and one second to her credit since her arrival on the Grassroots scene.

Memumsnotnice scored an impressive victory from Post 7 in the last division, taking control at the three-quarters and sailing home five and one-half lengths on top in 1:54.4. Golden Era and Grins Little Flirt rounded out the top three.

Sylvain Filion piloted Memumsnotnice to her second Grassroots victory for trainer Corey Johnson and owners Colin Johnson of Le Gardeur, Que., Gillies Caouette of Garson, Ont., Claude Baril of Mascouche, Que. and Fred Brayford of Alliston, Ont. The Jeremes Jet daughter was second in last year’s Grassroots Semifinal and Championship and will be looking to improve on that result when the post season gets under way at Grand River Raceway on Sept. 19.

The other two Grassroots trophies went home with Sauble Claire, who posted a 1:54.3 win, and Brightside Maude, who stopped the clock in 1:55.4.

The three-year-old pacing fillies make their last regular season start at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 10. Flamboro Downs hosts Gold elimination action for the exciting two-year-old pacing colts on Saturday, Sept. 8.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.

(OSS)