Torches Star maintained her position atop the leaderboard in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division for three-year-old trotting fillies with a comfortable victory in one of five $18,000 divisions Sunday night at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

Kadabrina and Gord Brown grabbed control early in that split and hit the quarter in :28.3. She was passed by Wings Of Ballykeel before the :58.1 half. At that point, Steve Condren pulled the right line on Torches Star and she took over confidently, hit the third marker in 1:27.4, and was an easy winner in 1:57.3 over Watch Her Dangle and Northern Secret.

Torches Star, who came into the contest with 105 points, was recording her second straight Grassroots victory. The second place filly before tonight’s races was Love Detective, who also competed in this race but broke stride and finished last. Ben Wallace trains the daughter of Angus Hall for Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.

Condren controlled the tempo in the fifth and final division with Lenny Mac through fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:27.3, but was hauled down late by Wonderland Snow, who scored in 1:57.2. Right there for place was Lenny Mac with Evolution Of Dance third.

Bob McClure drove the winner, a daughter of Angus Hall bred and owned by Bob Key of Pennsylvania and trained by Ronald Parsons. The win was the filly’s fourth of the season.

In the first and fastest test, Thisgirlisonfire cleared the lead by the opening quarter in :28.4, but was covered up by Audrey Pearl well before the half in :58.4. Missys Ga Ga and Rick Zeron pulled from third before the 1:27.3 third panel and took over control down the lane to win comfortably in 1:56.4. Chelseas Chance finished well for Condren to take second while Capturethememory was third.

The win was the second in eight starts this year for the daughter of Kadabra owned by Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. of Montreal, Quebec and trained by Rene Dion.

The second division saw favourite Mystical Wishes take herself out early with a break in stride. K D Bella and Steve Byron were in charge through the early going, hitting the first quarter in :28.3. She turned back Diamonds For Life to reach the half in :57.1 and the three-quarters in 1:26.1 and was first to the wire In 1:58.1. Jayport Princess was second with Muscle Girl edging out Diamonds For Life for third.

Dr. Peter Johnston of Cavan, Ont. trains the homebred and co-owns with fellow breeder Watkins Equine of Newcastle, Ont. Unraced last year at two, the daughter of Pegasus Spur, a half-sister to $520,000 winner Watkins, was recording her second win in 17 starts this year.

I Jasmin refused to give up the rail spot in the third division, hitting the first marker in :28.2. She continued on top for Denis St Pierre and trotted by the half in :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:27.1. She managed to get to the wire in front in 1:57.2 with a blanket finish of fillies a half-length behind her. Wawona and Dream Act took the second and third spots.

Ming Siu of Richmond, B.C. bred and owns the winner, a daughter of Muscle Mass trained by Michael Bourgeois. This was her first sophomore win.

This group will meet next on September 2 at Mohawk Racetrack.

In regular Sunday night racing action, Red Bugler held off Onyx V A for the half-length victory in a season's-best 1:54.4 in the $6,500 Winners Over Pace. Guy Gagnon drove the seven-year-old Cammibest gelding for trainer Jamie Copley, who shares ownership as part of the Copley Stables with Dean Larkin of Kanata, Ont.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway.

(With files from OSS)