The Thursday evening (June 1) card at Woodbine Mohawk Park featured three $21,800 divisions of the first leg of the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots for three-year-old trotting fillies as well as an undercard highlighted by a Pop Up Series for fillies and mares.
Vallee Doree opened up the evening card with a victory in the first OSS Grassroots division. Scott Young and Vallee Doree took the early lead to the quarter in :27.3 until Smashin Racquets took over. The pair was second at the half in :57.3 before being shuffled back to third at the three-quarters in 1:27.3. Around the final turn, Vallee Doree kicked into gear to overcome three other challengers, winning by a head in 1:55.3. Northern Magenta (Trevor Henry) was second and Southwind Chardnay (Tyler Borth) was third.
Vallee Doree is trained by Benoit Baillargeon for owner Gregg Martin. It was the second career win in a new lifetime mark for the daughter of Muscle Mass.
Scott Young doubled up in Grassroots victories after maneuvering Sweet Carrie T (pictured above) to a 1:55.1 new lifetime mark. Sweet Carrie T sat fourth through the quarter in :27.1 and half in :56.2 before making a move first over. The Mark Etsell trainee led the outer flow through the three-quarters in 1:26.1 before pressing on to win by a length in her new career best. Shiny New Penny (Sylvain Filion) finished one length behind in second after leading most of the way and Match Meif You Can (James MacDonald) followed in third.
The daughter of Muscle Mass, now a two-time winner, is owned by Etsell Newton, Graham Hopkins, Peter Porter and Lindsey Turner.
Olivias Goldnugget got away last in her field of seven Grassroots competitors. The daughter of My MVP stayed seventh through the opening panel in :28.2 and half in :58.3 before driver James MacDonald pulled the right line and followed cover to the three-quarters in 1:28.1. With a surge down the stretch, Olivias Goldnugget won by a length in 1:57.1. No Angel Like Me (Scott Coulter) and Savannahs Dream (Bruce Richardson) finished second and third, respectively.
Anthony Beaton trains Olivias Goldnugget, who scored her first career win in her debut performance. Felix and Olivia Marion co-own the filly.
In the first $15,000 Pop Up Series division, Tyler Jones and Baby Bonita rode the pocket trip through panels of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:24.3 before sailing home to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:52.1. Joe Pereira trains Baby Bonita for James and Edward Barry.
The Ideal Huntress gave a wire-to-wire performance in the second Pop Up Series division, controlling the tempo in :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23 before opening up to a six-length victory in 1:50.4. Louis-Philippe Roy was in the bike for trainer Brett Lester. Michel Letarte, Jean Allaire, Jean-Francois Reid and Maurice Houle co-own The Ideal Huntress.
Darkrshadeofpale N wrapped up the Pop Up Series for the evening, following suit to The Ideal Huntress with a wire-to-wire victory. Bob McClure was in the bike for Katelyn Graham as he controlled the timer through panels in :27.2, :57 and 1:25.3 before a 2-1/2-length win in 1:53.2. Steve Mihalic owns Darkrshadeofpale N.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.