Freshmen fillies flocked to Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening as the border oval played host to six $24,000 OSS Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacers
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The opening division went to race favourite Twin B Sensual and driver Paul MacKenzie in a time of 1:57.4. It was the second Grassroots score of the season for the daughter of Modern Art-Gotta Token, who led through splits of :28, :59.4 and 1:28.1 en route to defeating Miss Maverick and Fortune Tina. Trainer Jim Koelln co-owns the rookie with Terry Hamilton of Lethbridge, AB. It was her second win in five tries, and the lion’s share of the purse bumped her earnings to $29,360.
Randy Fritz rallied Coconut Cove to an impressive 1:58.4 triumph in the next tilt for the freshmen fillies. The Millar Farms’ homebred daughter of Camluck-Welcome Child picked off Jodies Romance and race favourite V C Asteroid thanks in part to an individual final quarter clocked in 29 seconds. After going 0-for-3 to start her career, the youngster has answered with back-to-back wins in the OSS for trainer Eric Adams. She has stashed away $32,440 along the way.
The lethal combination of trainer Bob McIntosh and driver Brad Forward padded to their leads in the Johnston and Lampman Cup races thanks to a dominant victory with Give The Gift in the third division. The daughter of Camluck-Eternal Gift overcame a first over trip to win in going away fashion in a time of 1:56. Addison Bay set the pace and held for the runner-up award while Show Girl took home the show dough. The filly is now 3-for-10 in her rookie campaign for the partnership of the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., C S X Stables and Steve Condren. Her bankroll climbed to $46,800 with the win.
Rob Sparling picked up a “live” catch-drive when he hopped up behind the John Pentland-trained Landfairlastchance in the fourth division. The daughter of Astreos-Landfair Jenna rallied to for a 22-1 upset in a time of 1:56 over heavily favoured Tiz To Dream and Lucky Jeans. It was a maiden-breaking score for the youngster, who was making just her third lifetime start for owner/breeder Janet McHugh of Ingersoll, ON.
Chalk players cashed in when All Chocolate produced a 1:56.4 score in the next split for driver Scott Zeron and trainer Duncan Brewer. The Astreos-Alliwannabe miss survived a first-over trip en route to posting the driving away victory over Mobro Flirt and Mi Amada. Sent off as the 2-5 choice, All Chocolate improved her 2009 record to 3-3-0 in eight tries. She has banked $44,900 for the Kelsam Stables of Binbrook, ON
Kevin Wallis rolled the Mark Steacy-trained Modern Music through fractions of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:26.3 before coasting home in :30.2 to win the final division in 1:57. The grey daughter of Modern Art-Ivory Key, who was sent off as the 1-2 favourite, clicked over Heavenly Ash and Vibrant Ally. It was the second victory in six starts for the youngster, who is owned by Katherine and Clarke Steacy and Landmark II Racing Stable. The $12,000 payday lifts her earnings to $22,881.
Flamboro Downs will host the final OSS Grassroots event of the season for the two-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday, October 14. After that, the top 16 point earners will have the chance to make their way to Rideau Carleton Raceway for the OSS Grassroots Semi-Finals on Friday, October 23. The top four finishers from each of the Semi-Finals will have the chance to contest the $100,000 OSS Grassroots Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, November 1.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.