Two-year-old pacing filly Mach Star made a drive home from the cottage worthwhile for her local connections, capturing the first of five $24,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions at Mohawk Racetrack on Sunday evening.
In rein to Milton resident Steve Condren, Mach Star sat fourth through the early going, watching Foolish Mind and More Than That wrestle their way to fractions of :27.3 and :57.4.
Heading for the halfway marker, Condren sent Mach Star up the outside and the pair was circling three-wide when Foolish Mind reached the three-quarters in 1:27.1.
By the time Condren squared the filly up for the stretch drive, Mach Star was sitting on a four-length lead and the Mach Three daughter increased that margin to seven and one-half lengths before she reached the finish in 1:56.1. Foolish Mind settled for second, with Lutetia Semalu rolling up from the backfield to claim the third-place share.
Shaun McDonald conditions Mach Star for Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein, Steven Papillon of Rockwood, Leonard Christopher of Acton and Dan Manes of Erin. Through two lifetime starts the filly, a $30,000 purchase at last fall’s Lexington Select sale, now has one win and one third for earnings of $14,160.
Milton resident Randy Waples also used come-from-behind tactics to capture the second Grassroots division with Leaveumlady, who stuck a neck in front of Berthaandgertrude to score the 1:57.1 victory. Cherry Bliss was one length behind the dueling leaders in third.
Waples engineered the win for trainer Bruce Goit and owner Patrick Ryan of London, who offered up $17,000 for the Mach Three half-sister to $428,240 winner Four Starz Trace at last fall’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
Condren came within half a length of picking up a second Grassroots win photo for Glenview Livestock and Leonard Christopher when Bluebird Creek nearly reeled in pacesetter Senorita Santanna in the third Grassroots division. Senorita Santanna rolled through fractions of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27.2 before holding off Bluebird Creek for the 1:55.3 win. Fan favourite Best Impressions finished one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Driver Jody Jamieson piloted Senorita Santanna to the win for his father, trainer Carl Jamieson of Princeton, Thomas Kyron of Toronto and George Harrison of Preston, England. The Santanna Blue Chip daughter was also a $17,000 yearling purchase, hammered down to her new owners at the Forest City Yearling Sale last October.
Mary Celeste and driver Sylvain Filion also led through all stations and prevailed by half a length in the fourth division, stopping the Mohawk teletimer at 1:56.2. Shesbadtothebone, owned by trainer-driver Joe Hudon Jr. and Karen Hudon of Acton, closed hard but could not catch the pacesetter, while Michelles Diamond rounded out the top three.
Bred, owned and trained by Stephen and Marilyn Gillard of Tavistock, Mary Celeste is by Your Nemesis and out of Lucky Call, who have also produced Call Me Yours ($406,200) and Classic Call ($109,597) for the couple.
Moffat resident Jamieson made a second appearance in front of the Grassroots fans on Sunday, steering Right On Molly to the fastest mile of the five divisions. The Stonebridge Regal daughter laid down a :27.3 final quarter to grab the 1:55.2 victory, besting Betit To Getit and OK Feisty.
Trainer Larry Hall’s Sauble Hill Farms of Tara and Nasussito Racing Inc. of Ayr share ownership of Right On Molly, who was a modest $5,000 purchase from last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale. With Sunday’s victory, the filly has already paid off her purchase price and most of her keep.
The two-year-old pacing fillies will make their second Grassroots start at Woodstock Raceway on July 20. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Mohawk Racetrack this Friday, July 6 with $130,000 Gold Finals for the two-year-old pacing colts and two-year-old pacing fillies. Post time for Friday’s program is 7:10 p.m.
For recaps of Sunday's Miss Versatility leg and Trotting Under Saddle race at Mohawk, click here.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from OSS)