Arthur resident Wayne Henry hauled four sophomore trotting fillies to Grand River Raceway for Monday night’s Grassroots season opener, and all four were able to

earn a share of the $24,000 up for grabs in their respective divisions.

Girlsruleboyslose topped the Henry Stable entrants, scoring a 2:02.3 victory off a front end effort in the fourth race. The Earl daughter and driver Trevor Henry reached the finish four and one-quarter lengths ahead of Mind Over Money. Windsong Fantasia, owned by Bryan and Donna Wick of Elmira finished third.

Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein and Henry Stable of Arthur share ownership of Girlsruleboyslose, who now has two wins to her credit through five sophomore starts. The filly was also a steady performer as a two-year-old, earning $24,116 and qualifying for the Grassroots post season.

Wayne Henry stepped into the driver’s seat to post a runner-up finish in the tenth race with Napanee Seelster, and a fourth-place finish in the first Grassroots division with Daring Original. Berndts Lucky Girl rounded out the Henry Stable quartet’s efforts with a fifth-place effort in rein to Trevor Henry in the seventh race.

The sharpest mile of the six Grassroots divisions came in the seventh race, when trainer-driver Jeffrey O’Brien piloted Pajama Land to a 2:00.2 score. O’Brien and the Kadabra daughter powered away from post five and rang up fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:29.3 on their way to the one length victory over a fast closing J N Jasmin. Last Strike was almost five more lengths back in third.

London resident O’Brien trains Pajama Land for his partners Eldon and Carol Wettlaufer and Pamela Kampers of St. Thomas. A Gold Series player at two, Pajama Land has five starts to her credit this season, with Monday’s effort marking her first trip to the winner’s circle.

The seventh race was the last Grassroots division contested under ideal track conditions. Before the fillies paraded for Races 9 and 10, the rain had forced officials to downgrade the surface from fast to sloppy and rate it two seconds slower than normal.

In spite of the track conditions, heavy favourite Ill Wait For You delivered an impressive effort in the ninth race to score a seven and a half length victory over pacesetter Dutchess Seelster and last year’s Grassroots Champion Stonebridge Marita.

A Gold Final winner as a two-year-old, I’ll Wait For You was making her first start of the season for trainer Dan Creighton and owners Danterra Racing Stable of Strathroy. The Kadabra daughter, in rein to trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie, stopped the Grand River teletimer at 2:02.3.

The other Grassroots trophies were awarded to Paidmedorayme (2:02); Larissa (2:02.1); and Skyla (2:03).

The three-year-old trotting fillies will make their second Grassroots appearance at Hiawatha Horse Park on July 2.

Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues to build at Grand River Raceway with the arrival of the three-year-old pacing fillies at the Elora oval on Friday, July 10. The fillies will compete in the third of six Grassroots events on their schedule this season.

To view Monday’s results, click here.

(OSS)