Momara jumped to the top of the two-year-old pacing filly Grassroots division of the Ontario Sires Stakes with a commanding victory at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening.
In rein to Doug McNair, Momara took command of the race before the halfway marker and pulled away from her peers to a ninth length triumph in a personal best 1:55.1. Hit It Big and Jakardez finished second and third.
Guelph resident Gregg McNair conditions Momara for his partners Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, Don MacDonald of Amherstburg and David Kryway of Amherstburg. The partners also bred the daughter of Lis Mara and Mosaic, who posted her first Grassroots win at Georgian Downs on July 9 and finished second in the season opener, also at Georgian Downs, on July 2.
The father and son duo of Gregg and Doug McNair also captured the seventh race with Can Art, who overcame the outside Post 9 to eke out a head victory in 1:55.
The Artistic Fella daughter bested Noble Jilly and An Angel Shes Not to secure her first ever victory for owner-breeder Robert Chapple of Chatham.
Guelph resident Doug McNair made one more appearance in the Mohawk winner’s circle, steering Murray Brethour trainee Girlsgotmachzie to her first victory in the final Grassroots division. The Mach Three lass caught Thrill Chaser in the stretch to record the 1:55.3 win. Lyons Katrina rounded out the top three.
Murray Brethour and Gary Brethour of Sunderland share ownership of Girlsgotmachzie.
Skippin By rallied to a career-best 1:55.1 triumph in her division for the team of driver James MacDonald and trainer Rod Boyd. The daughter of Shadow Play-Southern Magnolia cut the opening quarter of :27.3 before taking a backseat to race favourite Shes A Hotmama. That foe produced middle panels of :58.1 and 1:27.4, but she couldn’t fend off Skippin By in the lane. Skippin By sped home in a :27-second clip to produced the win by 1-1/4 lengths over Shes A Hotmama, with third prize going to Badlands Love.
Wall Bros Stable of Marion and Bruce Soulsby of Powell, OH share ownership on the first-time starter, who was a $5,000 purchase from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
Hare To Eternity pulled off the biggest upset of the night when she rallied to a neck decision in 1:54.4 at odds of 36-1. Phil Hudon got away fourth with the Bill Cass trainee, but the filly advanced steadily in the back-half of the mile before surging to the lead and posting the upset score over Regally Ready and race favourite Brittania Seelster.
John Craig of North York, ON shelled out $20,000 to purchase the pacer from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale. It was the first win in three tries for the filly who boosted her earnings to $7,070 with the victory.
Savhorsrideacowboy extended her winning streak to two-in-a-row thanks to her 1:55.4 Grassroots score for the tandem of driver Billy Davis, Jr. and trainer James Graham. The daughter of Mister Big-Red Road Rage brushed to the lead in the late stages of the mile and fended off late pressure to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Alot Of Sense was second best, with the show dough going to Catwoman in the $12,857 contest.
The homebred filly, who is owned by Margaret Payne of St. Augustine, FL, now boasts a cash stash totaling $12,856.
Delirium was third in his pari-mutuel debut, but she stepped up her game and captured her division on Monday evening in a time of 1:55 for trainer Eric Valiquette and driver Billy Davis, Jr. The homebred rolled the field through fractions of :27, :56 and 1:26 before slipping home in a :29-second clip en route to the 1:55 score over Catalea Seelster. Third prize went to Kiss Me Or Not.
The Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc of Hudson, QC bred and owns the Artistic Fella-Hazel filly. Her bankroll climbed to $7,970 with the win.
The two-year-old pacing fillies make their fourth Grassroots start at Hanover Raceway on Aug. 17. Ontario Sires Stakes action marches on at Mohawk Racetrack, with the two-year-old trotting fillies arriving at the Campbellville oval on Monday, July 29 for their third Grassroots skirmish.
(With files from the OSS)
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.