Sophomore trotting fillies were on display on the Thursday, May 30 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park with three divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots for the first leg of the series, each carrying a $20,000 purse. Of the three divisions, Mass Cara rode the pocket trip to the swiftest time of the evening action.
Sue Anne (Louis-Philippe Roy) set the fractions in :27.4, :56.3 and 1:25.2 while Mass Cara (Trevor Henry) followed in the pocket trip. Mass Cara broke free in the stretch and went home with a one-length triumph in 1:54.3. Love Those Legs (Chris Christoforou) charged home to take second and Go Have Fun (Bob McClure) rounded out the triactor.
Mass Cara (Muscle Mass-Penetangore) won her second race in six starts this year and second race from 13 lifetime starts. Frank Brundle and trainer Kyle Bossence co-own the filly. She returned $49 as the 24-1 upset victor.
Sweet Valley took the first division with Doug McNair in the bike for his father, trainer Gregg McNair. The filly got away fourth along the pylons at the quarter in :27.2, continued in third at the half in :57.2, then pulled first over en route to the three-quarters in 1:27.2. As the pacesetter faded, Sweet Valley was met by Rhythm Of Life (James MacDonald) in a battle to the wire. In a photo finish, Sweet Valley prevailed by a nose in 1:56.3. Rhythm Of Life had to settle for second and P L Rachel (Bob McClure) hung on for third.
Unraced as a freshman, Sweet Valley (Il Sogno Dream-Valley Makayla) won her second race from three starts. Charalambos Christoforou owns the winner. She returned $5.30 as the bettors' choice.
Her Currency and Bob McClure took back in the final division of the OSS Grassroots before propelling to victory. McClure and the Scott McEneny student landed in sixth off the car and through panels in :27.3 and :57.3. The pair moved second over through the three-quarters in 1:27.2, continuing in fourth at the final turn for home. The pacesetting Birthday Money (Todd Ratchford) was relentless in the stretch, but Her Currency powered just enough to win by a length in 1:55.3. Birthday Money had to take second while Billie Jean Queen (Sylvain Filion) took the show spot.
Her Currency (The Bank-Aris Lady) was bred and is owned by McEneny with Aristi Varsakis. She notched her first win of the year in three starts and second career victory from 11 starts. She paid $14.90 as the 7-1 upset victor.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)