Mohawk Racetrack hosted its first OSS event of the season Monday evening as three-year-old pacing fillies flocked to the Campbellville oval to compete in a six-pack of Grassroots divisions worth $15,000 apiece.
Racey Miss, who was one of the leading ladies in the division last year, survived a first-over trip en route to capturing her assignment in a sparkling time of 1:53.2. Sylvain Filion rallied her to the win over Hippie Chic, with race favourite Modern Image fading to be third.
Marcel Barrieau trains the homebred daughter of Shanghai Phil-Racey Date, who is a homebred owned and bred by Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc of Hudson, QC. She went 7-for-10 last season while her bankroll soared to $68,130.
Life Is A Lady nabbed her first-ever stakes score thanks to a 1:54.2 triumph for driver Anthony Haughan and trainer Meg Crone. They own the homebred, who kicked off cover and used a :29.2 final quarter to secure the win over Burlesque by two lengths. Third prize went to Scarlet Starlet.
The daughter of Santanna Blue Chip-Mate For Life went 1-for-12 last year, and she now owns a 1-for-record this year. Her lifetime earnings climbed to $34,540 with the win.
Parade Route was sent off as the 1-2 favourite in her tilt, was a handy winner in front-stepping fashion for Scott Zeron. The daughter of Camluck-Arts Michelle got away fourth before brushing to the top and laying down all of the speed. She tore through middle panels of :56.2 and 1:24.3 before using a :29.1 kicker to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Lookers Destiny in 1:53.4. Oozies Finale closed well to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-2 choice, Parade Route had no problem getting the job done for trainer Mark Austin. The Mark Austin Stables Inc of Fergus and Robert Pooley, of Exeter, ON share ownership on the improving lass who now boasts a 2-2-1 record from eight trips to the track this year. Her earnings now stand at $27,390.
Cherry Bliss was a popular winner in her division for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Murray Brethour. The daughter of Blissfull Hall-Western Debutante front-stepped her way to a 1:54.1 score over Maratoga and Flying Topless.
Sent off at odds of 4-5, Cherry Bliss won for the second time this season and for the third time in her career. The winner of $36,770 to date is owned by Jerry Reinhart of Buffalo and Daniel Phillips of Batavia, NY.
The white-hot Mach Away extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row despite being collared in the late stages of her $15,000 Grassroots division. The Mach Three-Digga Digga miss threw down panels of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:24.3 before being confronted by Prettyndangerous in deep stretch. That foe grabbed a short lead before Mach Away countered and re-rallied for the 1:53.3 victory. Prettyndangerous settled for the runner-up award, with the show dough going to Panstakingly.
Unraced as a rookie, Mach Away has faced the gate 12 times this season and she’s now visited victory lane four times. Carmen Auciello trains the first-ever stakes winner for Denarben Stables of Thornhill and Rocco Auciello of Stouffville, ON.
Mattys Big Day went winless in eight tries during her freshman campaign in 2012, but she now owns a 3-1-0 record from just four trips postward this season thanks in part to her 1:54 decision in Monday’s final division. Paul MacDonell guided her to the narrow win over Senorita Santanna. Selandia took home third prize.
Sam Sergi trains the daughter of Jeremes Jet-Mattll Be The Day for Debbie Element and Ecurie JGV of Laval, QC. The lion’s share of the purse boosted her career bankroll to $19,495.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.