Grand River Raceway opens its 2021 Ontario Sires Stakes season this Friday, July 16 with four $22,150 Grassroots divisions and one $7,000 Prospect Series division for the three-year-old trotting fillies.
Looking for her third win of the season and second Grassroots victory will be Tipsy In Dixie, who starts from Post 1 in the last division. In the Grassroots season opener at Clinton Raceway on July 4, the Muscle Mass daughter cruised to a two-length 2:01.1 victory from the outside Post 7.
“She definitely doesn’t mind the half-mile tracks,” said trainer Harry Poulton of Milton, ON. “She’s pretty nice. She’s doing everything we want her to do, so far anyway.”
Poulton conditions Tipsy In Dixie for fractional ownership group TheStable.ca Tipsy In Dixie of Guelph, ON and he expects a number of the filly’s 15 owners will be on hand to cheer her home Friday, noting that one couple has managed to attend all her races in spite of the restrictions necessitated by the pandemic over the last two seasons.
Her owners are not the only ones eager to see what Tipsy In Dixie can do from Post 1 on Friday. Driver Mario Baillargeon qualified the filly twice this spring but has never driven her in a race, and he is looking forward to steering her around the Elora oval.
“I think this year she’s better than she was, she’s bigger, she’s stronger and she’s still as handy on a small track. She’s just a very nice filly and I can’t wait to drive her Friday and see how she is,” said Baillargeon of Acton, ON. “I didn’t see her (Clinton) race but I know James (MacDonald) told me she was in front before the first turn, which is amazing from the seven-hole. I am looking forward to driving her.”
Regular reinsman James MacDonald piloted Tipsy In Dixie to the win in Clinton, and was also in the bike for her three Grassroots victories last season, but his driving commitments at Woodbine Mohawk Park give Baillargeon the opportunity to see the filly’s skills firsthand on Friday.
The three-year-old trotting fillies will kick off the Friday evening program at 6:30 pm and Fuzzy Angel will be looking for another sharp effort from Post 4 in the first division. The Archangel daughter set a track record in the season opener, sprinting around Clinton Raceway in 1:58.4. Regular reinsman Jody Jamieson of Guelph will be in the race bike for trainer Blake MacIntosh of St. George, ON and his co-owner Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, PA.
The other Grassroots divisions will go postward as Races 3, 5, and 9 and the Prospect Series division is slated as Race 7.
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To view entries for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Entries – Grand River Raceway.