Georgian Downs will wrap up its 2016 live racing schedule on Tuesday (August 30), as two-year-old Ontario Sires Stakes fillies will be in the spotlight.

Among the fillies hoping to reach the winner’s circle is Sheer Talent, who will start from Post 6 in the third $18,000 Grassroots division. The daughter of Badlands Hanover heads into the race off a locked-in sixth-place finish in the August 22 Grassroots event at Mohawk Racetrack, and trainer Carmen Auciello believes she is poised for a big outing.

“Actually, I think she’s good enough to win,” said the Stouffville, Ont. resident. “Last week, if she gets room anywhere, she’s probably in the top three, easy. So I’m looking forward to seeing her at Georgian, because she can get around any size track, and I think she’s a real nice filly.”

Robert Burgess of Cedar Valley, Ont. owns Sheer Talent, who was a $20,000 purchase at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale. The filly was a 1:56.2 winner in an overnight event at Mohawk on August 4, but has yet to crack the top three in three Grassroots outings.

“Two of the Grassroots at Mohawk she was locked in, and never had a chance to get out, I think we had a fifth and a sixth, and the one time we did give her a shot she came up sick,” said Auciello. “So if you look at her lines, she’s a lot better than her lines show.”

Jonathan Drury will steer Sheer Talent in the sixth race, and the Guelph, Ont. resident will also be aboard her stablemate, Mystical Moon, from Post 1 in the second Grassroots division.

“She kind of needs it, she has a bit of gate speed, but not quite enough to overcome a tough post,” said Auciello, of the filly’s advantageous starting position. “Looks like she’s going to be right beside the favourite (Anderson Seelster) and hopefully follow her all the way around, that would be nice.”

After a second-place result in the July 8 Grassroots season opener at Mohawk Racetrack, Mystical Moon tested the Gold Series waters and finished eighth in the July 18 event at Mohawk. Back at the Grassroots level, the daughter of Mach Three made a break and finished ninth at Mohawk on August 11 and was sixth in the August 22 event at the Campbellville oval.

“She’s a racehorse,” said Auciello about Mystical Moon, a $14,000 yearling purchase from the Forest City Yearling Sale who he co-owns with Stephen Klunowski of North York, Ont. “I mean, she’s never been real flashy, she’s a little bit lazy, but she looks like she’s one that might develop into a nicer three or four-year-old once she fills out. Right now, she has the speed; she’s just still learning what it’s all about.

“Sheer Talent’s a better filly right now, she’s just a lot more developed and a lot more mature,” added the trainer. “If you look at her, she looks like a four-year-old, whereas the other one (Mystical Moon) looks like a two-year-old, so physically she’s a lot more developed. I wouldn’t say mentally she is, that’s kind of what’s holding her back. She can look at something and jump over it or just make breaks for no reason, that’s her only downfall.”

Tuesday’s test is the fifth on the two-year-old pacing filly Grassroots calendar, with the regular season finale slated for September 8 at Flamboro Downs. The top 20 point earners at the conclusion of the regular season will advance to the September 15 semi-finals at Mohawk Racetrack, with the top five finishers from each semi-final earning a berth in the $50,000 Grassroots Championship at Mohawk on September 24.

The fillies will compete in Races 3, 5 and 6 on Tuesday’s program, and the first race will roll in behind the Georgian Downs starting gate at 7:15 pm.

In addition to the horses, the fans that will be in attendance will have an opportunity to visit the Ontario Sires Stakes winner’s circle.

Fans can select their favourite horse in the third two-year-old pacing filly Grassroots division by placing their ‘Be A Winner’ contest ballot in the horse’s ballot box. One Be A Winner finalist will be selected from each ballot box, and each finalist will receive an Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) t-shirt, ball cap and lanyard badge, along with a $15 win-place-show wager on their chosen horse.

After cheering home the sixth race contestants, the finalist representing the victorious filly will join in the winner’s circle celebrations for a commemorative photograph. The winning finalist will also receive a trophy, an OSS jacket and golf shirt, and a $50 wagering voucher.

In addition to the Grassroots and Be A Winner excitement, Georgian Downs will also announce the winner of the season-long Habitat for Humanity 50/50 draw and treat fans to $1 hot dogs and pop starting at 6 p.m.

To view the harness racing entries for Tuesday at Georgian, click the following link: Tuesday Entries – Georgian Downs.

(With files from the OSS)