On Friday evening two-year-old pacing filly Ramadawn returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway, making her first start over her hometown oval since beginning her Grassroots
career in early August.
Bred and owned by Ottawa, ON resident Peter Haime, Ramadawn finished a narrowly-beaten second in that Aug. 2 test at Kawartha Downs and went on to add another second and a third-place finish to her resume on the provincial circuit, ranking her among the top competitors in the freshman pacing filly division as she heads home for Friday’s regular season finale.
“I kind of expected her to be like that, but you never know because the Sires Stakes is so competitive,” says Haime. “I didn’t put her in the first two Sires Stakes because I wasn’t sure.”
Once Haime decided to give the filly a shot at the province’s best, he took the advice of friend and fellow horse owner Neil MacIntyre and called David Menary. Gatineau, QC resident Serge Cardinal broke and trained the filly, sending her out in her first six starts, all over the Rideau Carleton oval, but Haime wanted to give Ramadawn every advantage in her pursuit of Grassroots glory. Currently ranked eleventh in the Ontario Sires Stakes trainer’s standings, Cheltenham, ON resident Menary has guided pacers to Grassroots Championships in each of the last two years.
“Serge Cardinal did a great job with her,” emphasizes Haime. “But I had a feeling.
“I gave Dave a call and he said, ‘Sure I’ll try her,’” recounts the owner. “I think Dave likes her, not because she’s a champion, but because she is a filly that is easy to get along with and she is very good on the track. She can leave the gate quick and get positioned.”
Ramadawn has needed her early speed recently, drawing outside posts in her last three starts, but she will be able to coast a little at Rideau Carleton on Friday. Guy Gagnon will steer the winner of $21,544 after another top three Grassroots finish from Post 1 in the first $24,000 division.
“We were very fortunate to get the rail,” says Haime. “I’m not going to say that she will win, but I am pretty sure that we’ll be competitive.”
Gagnon and Ramadawn face just four other fillies in the last test of the Grassroots regular season, so they are guaranteed both a pay cheque and a final installment of Grassroots points. Through her first three provincial outings, the daughter of Rambaran and Lifesabolofcherrys tallied 62 points, seven more than the current cut off for the Oct. 15 Grassroots Semifinals, and Friday’s effort will cement her post season berth.
“I am looking forward to getting to Western Fair and racing in the Semifinal,” admits Haime. “It is pretty neat for me because I haven’t been doing that much in stakes races recently. I’ve had some tough luck.”
Among Haime’s run of tough luck was losing Ramadawn’s older brother last winter in a fluke accident. The Royal Mattjesty colt got loose, slipped on some ice and broke his back leg. The longtime owner-breeder is hoping Ramadawn’s success signals a sea change in the tides of good fortune, one that will extend to her yearling sister Swingirl.
“Dr. (Garry) Galloway, a veterinarian, raises all my horses at his farm just outside London. He always gives me good advice on my horses,” explains Haime. “He tells me I have a Jeremes Jet filly, a half-sister to Ramadawn, that is the nicest filly he has had on the farm in 20 years. He says she has perfect conformation and good size, so I am pretty excited about that.”
For now, however, Haime is content to watch Ramadawn wrap up her freshman season, starting with Friday’s Grassroots contest.
The filly and her peers will battle in Races 2 and 4 on Rideau Carleton Raceway’s Friday evening program, with the Ottawa oval’s first race stepping in behind the starting gate at 6:30 p.m.
(O.S.S.)
To view Friday’s entries, click here.