Six divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes were contested Tuesday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, with three-year-old trotting fillies sparring in the Grassroots tilts worth $18,000 apiece.
Torches Star got the Grassroots party started with a come-from-behind score at odds of 13-1 for the tandem of Hall of Fame driver Steve Condren and trainer Ben Wallace. The daughter of Angus Hall-Torch watched Thisgirlisonfire whack out fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:27.4 over a track rated ‘good’. Torches Star rallied from the middle of the pack to win by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Ja El Diamond in 1:59.4. Thisgirlisonfire weakened late and settled for the show dough.
Brad Grant of Milton, Ontario owns the two-time winner, who lifted her lifetime earnings to $56,164 with the win.
Eliza Dream was treated to a two-hole trip in the second division, and she didn’t let it go to waste for Team Pierce. The daughter of Angus Hall-Eagle Di Jesolo tracked J Marie through panels of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:28 before surging past that foe and producing the 1:58.4 triumph. Chelseas Chance came on late to finish in the runner-up spot, while J Marie faded to finish third.
It was the second win of the year in four tries for Eliza Dream, who was driven to victory by Hall of Fame reinsman Ron Pierce for trainer Therese Pierce. Owned by A Star Is Born Stable of Clarksburg, New Jersey, Eliza Dream bumped her bankroll to $18,400 with the victory.
Please Okay was a popular winner in the third division in her debut for the team of driver Rick Zeron and trainer Rob Fellows. The daughter of Federal Flex-Lakeside Bride survived a first-over trip en route to drawing away to the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Wings Of Ballykeel in 1:59. Taking home third prize was Chippentail.
Christopher Giaccio of Roslyn Heights, New York owns the filly who has really stepped up her game this season. She’s produced a 4-for-6 record this year after going 1-for-12 as a freshman. The $9,000 payday increased her overall cash stash to $38,550.
Flexible Woman failed to win in 10 starts as a rookie, but she’s now a three-time winner this season thanks to a 1:58.3 triumph in the fourth division. Steve Byron came first-over with the daughter of Federal Flex-Womanlee and they had no problem hauling down the tempo-setting Mojito AS who served up splits of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:27.4. Flexible Woman surged by that foe and drew off to win by three-quarters of a length over race favourite Lenny Mac. Carousel Hall rounded out the top three finishers.
John Bax trains the homebred for Glengate Farms of Campbellville and Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough, Ontario. Her share of the loot lifted her lifetime earnings to $61,738.
Quadrophenia disappointed in last month’s Canadian debut, but she was anything but disappointing in tonight’s follow-up performance for trainer Dave Menary. The daughter of Kadabra-Birminghim brushed to the front in the backstretch and cruised through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:26.4 before coasting home in :30.1 to win by 11-1/4 lengths over Nickange Two. Love Detective completed the Triactor ticket.
James MacDonald mapped out the winning trip for the lightly-raced lass who is owned by Kjell Magne Andersen of Oslo, Norway. The victory bumped her earnings to $11,150.
Diamonds For Life went to the front and didn’t look back in the final division en route to posting a career-best clocking of 1:58.2 for the team of driver Chris Christoforou and trainer Mark Steacy. The daughter of Angus Hall-Jayportcashforlife sliced out fractions of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:27.1 before cruising home to defeat race favourite Stephana Dream and Muscle Girl.
It was the first win of the season – and the third to date – for the career winner of $37,250. She is owned by Frank Spagnolo and Frank Schimizzi of Ottawa, Ontario.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.