Oakville's Scott Zeron piloted All Chocolate to the fastest mile in the sophomore pacing filly Grassroots event at Flamboro Downs on Saturday afternoon
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Starting from Post 1 in the tenth $24,000 Grassroots division, Zeron sent All Chocolate straight to the front and it was there they stayed through fractions of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:25. Couriers Luckylady mounted a challenge at the halfway marker, but All Chocolate easily disposed of her rival and sprinted off to a two and one half length victory in a personal best 1:54.
Couriers Luckylady settled for second, with Athleticlyinclined rounding out the top three.
Zeron steers All Chocolate for trainer Duncan Brewer’s Kelsam Stables of Binbrook, and the pair are currently riding a two race win streak. The Astreos daughter got her first Ontario Sires Stakes test of the season at the Gold Series level in May, but failed to advance out of her elimination into the Gold Final. Through 14 sophomore starts the filly boasts a record of three wins, one second and three thirds for earning of $36,192.
The 21-year-old Zeron also piloted Vibrent Ally to victory in the fourth division. The pair stalked pacesetter Noartographsplease through fractions of :28.1, :58.2, and 1:27.2 before pulling out in the stretch to claim the 1:571 victory. Noartographsplease finished three and one-quarter lengths back in second, holding off a gritty Grayland Astrid.
Ross Hardy trains Vibrent Ally for his partners Melinda Hardy and Vibrent Farms Ltd. of Melbourne. The victory was the first in nine outings this season for the filly, who is also a daughter of Astreos,
Cambridge resident Jody Jamieson also made multiple appearances in the Flamboro Downs winner’s circle on Saturday. A perennial leader in the Ontario Sires Stakes driver’s standings, Jamieson opened the afternoon program with a 1:58.1 front end victory aboard Mobro Flirt.
Like All Chocolate, Mobro Flirt opened her sophomore stakes campaign at the Gold Series level, but moved into the Grassroots when she did not reach the Gold Final. Alan Morrison trains the Artesian daughter for Mobro Racing Stables of London and Raymond Stewart of Port Rowan.
Jamieson’s second victory was an off the pace effort with fan favourite Heavenly Ash in the ninth race. The pair reeled in pacesetter Holiday Shopper in the stretch to secure a half length victory in 1:54.3. Oceans Motion rode Heavenly Ash’s coat tails into second, leaving Holiday Shopper to settle for third.
Trained by Shawn Robinson for Macadream Stable of Ottawa and Ciro Gentile of Boca Raton, FL, Heavenly Ash has captured her last three starts and currently sits atop the three-year-old pacing filly Grassroots standings with two victories through two events. The Royal Mattjesty daughter’s only off the board finish this season came in her April 30 debut at Pompano Park where she finished fourth.
Lucky Jeans completed the driving hat trick for Jamieson, rolling home to a one and one-quarter length victory in 1:55.2. Lightly regarded contestants Bronwen Seelster and Miss Maverick rounded out the top three in the final Grassroots division.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor conditions Lucky Jeans for his long time partners C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH. The homebred daughter of Camluck and Oliviajeankillean was second in the Grassroots season opener at Dresden Raceway in May.
The other Grassroots divisions were captured by Best Risque in 1:58.1; Putnam Mackenzie in 1:54.2; Phenomenal Grace in 1:55.3; Lismorebella in 1:56.1; MC Taylor in 1:55.4; and Spiritinhereyes in 1:56.2.
The $120,000 final of the Ellamony Stakes which wrapped up Saturday afternoon’s program went to former Ontario Sires Stakes star To Helen Back, who circled the Flamboro half-mile in 1:53.1.
This season’s talented pacing fillies make their third Grassroots start at Kawartha Downs on July 24. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Flamboro Downs on Friday, July 16 with the Gold Series debuts of the 2010 two-year-old trotting filly crop.
To view the results, click here.
(OSS)