The race for top spot in the three-year-old trotting filly division of the Ontario Sires Stakes intensified on Saturday afternoon as four fillies scored their second straight Grassroots victories with impressive effort over the Flamboro Downs half-mile
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Leading the way was last year’s freshman Grassroots champion Magic Wheel, who cruised to a five and one-quarter length victory in the first $24,000 division, halting the teletimer at 1:59.1. Frances Fanny and Spanish Mama trailed along behind the heavy favourite into second and third.
The 1:59.1 clocking was a new personal best for the Kadabra daughter, who is piloted by co-owner Karen Hudon of Acton, Ont. for her partner Margaret Payne of St. Augustine, Florida. Joe Hudon trains the talented young trotter, who now has a record of two wins and one third in four sophomore starts.
Harlow Seelster also replicated the victory she posted in the May 24 Grassroots opener at Western Fair Raceway. The Ken Warkentin daughter and driver Jason Brewer led through all stations in Race 6, breezing under the wire two and one-half lengths the best in 1:59.3. Tropical Breeze AS and Wild Logic rounded out the top three.
Aristi Varsakis of Hamilton, Ont. owns Harlow Seelster and Kevin O’Reilly conditions the filly, who has recorded three wins and two seconds in eight starts this season, for earnings of $34,875.
Lady Is A Pirate swept by pacesetter and fan favourite Second Avenue to collect her second Grassroots trophy of the season in the seventh race. The Doug McIntosh trainee hit the wire half a length up on Cook Off, while Dabrina was well back in third. Trevor Ritchie engineered the victory on behalf of Wheatley resident McIntosh and his partner Henry Svec of Blenheim, Ont. The Mutineer lass is now five wins and one third to the good through 10 starts and boasts sophomore earning of $35,725.
The final filly to deliver a repeat victory was another daughter of Mutineer, Mutinys Child, who wrapped up the Ontario Sires Stakes program with a three-quarter length score over Abbeycrest and Julie Labelle in Race 11. Veteran reinsman Doug Brown crafted the 2:00.1 score for trainer Frank O’Reilly and owners Larry and Jackie Drysdale of Orangeville and Dan Drysdale of Hillsburgh, Ont.
The quickest mile of the 10 Grassroots divisions was clocked by Extraordinaire, who hit the wire a full 19 lengths ahead of the competition in 1:57.4. The Duke Of York daughter, a Gold elimination winner at Western Fair Raceway on May 20, is owned by the Henry Stable of Arthur and Kaye Laverty of Sauble Beach, Ont.. Wayne Henry drives and trains the winner of $250,440. Out Of The Kitchen and St Lads Mystique trailed home in second and third.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Ms Canada Kadabra in 1:59.2; Zorgwijk Lunar in 2:01; Life Class in 2:00.1; B Cor Janett in 2:03; and Some Like It Hot in 2:00.3.
The three-year-old trotting fillies were part of a full day of festivities at Flamboro Downs, which included the Ellamony Classic won by Dreamfair Eternal, in support of the Breast Assessment Centre at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, which saw over $10,000 raised, of which $5,000 was generously donated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(OSS)