The Stormont prefix got off to a hot start Thursday night with Stormont Meadows homebreds taking the first two of three $23,400 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies at
A Grassroots division opened the Thursday race card, and Stormont Molly left the gate at 30-1 from post eight.
Driver Sylvain Filion sat off the pace in sixth position at the half-mile marker, and the daughter of Angus Hall made her move to the front around the far turn, before powering down the last eighth of a mile to post a :29.3 final quarter and win by four lengths in a time of 1:56.1 for trainer Kevin Benn.
“She raced good the week before finishing third, and trotting 1:56.4,” said Benn. “So, coming in there were a few who had showed better miles than her, but she looked good tonight, and I was pleased with her.”
Stormont Molly is out of the Kadabra mare Stormont Fried and is a full sister to four-year-old Stormont Barbeque, who has over $75,000 in career earnings.
“Her sister has trotted 1:54 and is a smaller horse,” said Benn. “(Stormont Molly) is a bigger and stronger mare than her sister. So, there is no reason she can’t be that type of horse.”
Ronald Corbett homebred Angelwithattitude (
The Kadabra filly settled into third position early on from the rail post, and Louis-Philippe Roy moved her to the front by the half-mile pole. The Desiree Jones trainee held off her challengers the rest of the way for her third career win, and first in the
A pair of father-son trainer-driver duos rounded out the podium. Angelonia (
In the Grassroots finale, Baby Longstocking trotted to victory for father-son pairing Gregg and Doug McNair. The Muscle Mass daughter sat off early speed in third position and moved into first entering the stretch, finishing strong to win in a time of 1:55.4.
“Doug said she kind of moved herself,” said Gregg. “He said he wasn’t quite ready to pull her out there, but she moved herself out and instead of putting her back he kept right on going.”
Baby Longstocking made just two starts as a two-year-old, before having to shut down early. She has come back strong as a three-year-old finishing second last time out at, and now winning.
“It will take her a few starts to learn to trot at a speed and she will come down every time,” said McNair. “She dropped another half second tonight. It’s all new territory for her speed wise.”
The Willow Oak Ranch homebred now has over $29,000 in career earnings.
“If she keeps improving, we will try her in a Gold,” said McNair. “She is staked up to most stuff up here, and she’s eligible to do bigger things if she is ready.”
Wheelin N Dealin daughter Silver Diamond finished second for owners Silver Stables, and Michelle Gaboury. Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy the Jean Tourigny trainee now has four top-three finishes in seven starts this season. Race favourite Lilys Lass was third. She’s trained and co-owned by Patrick Hunt, and his partner Goldfinger Stables.
Fans got the best of both worlds in Thursday’s opening leg of the Pop Up Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park as Gypsy Merlot upset and Kickin Cowgirl prevailed as a major favourite in the set of $15,000 divisions.
Gypsy Merlot shot to the front from Post 7 in the first division, and her six foes chased along to an opening quarter clocked in :27.3. Heavily-favoured Saulsbrook Olympia darted out of the three-hole in the backstretch and muscled her way to the front.
She hit the half in :56.1 and then marched past the three-quarter pole in 1:25 before being gang tackled in the lane. She was overtaken by a pair of foes including Gypsy Merlot who used a :28.4 closing quarter to win by a pair of lengths over Takeyourbreathaway in 1:54. Saulsbrook Olympia had to settle for third prize.
Let go at odds of 24-1, the six-year-old daughter of Feelin Friskie nabbed her first win of the season from 17 starts. The 26-time winner has banked over $190,000 to date. She is owned by Dr. R James Shive of
Kickin Cowgirl, who was sent off as the 4-5 choice in the second division, powered home in :27.4 to win in 1:52.3 for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Richard Moreau.
Filion got away fourth with his charge while Escape The House rolled to the lead and then carved out fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:24.3. Cranberry Brie applied first-over pressure on the leader around the final turn, and Kickin Cowgirl was in hot pursuit from second over. She powered to the top in the late going and drew clear to win by two lengths over Mywishlistforyou. Whatineedisaman rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
The six-year-old daughter of Big Jim-Best Lady, who is a 17-time winner to date, is now 4-for-16 this season. The career winner in excess of $180,000 is owned by Bob Frank, GAAR Racing Stables and Sylvain Descheneaux.
(With files from Ontario Racing)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results –