It was like the first day of kindergarten Tuesday evening at Georgian Downs as the Innisfil oval hosted five OSS Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Murrayfield, a daughter of Jeremes Jet-Keystone Liana, kicked things off with a 1:56 triumph in the first division for the tandem of driver Rick Zeron and trainer Murray Brethour. Sent off as the even-money favourite, the youngster brushed to the front in the back-half of the mile and drew clear to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Galarina. Champagne Shower finished third.
Dr. Huw Llewellyn of Allenford, ON bred and owns the rookie, who was making her pari-mutuel debut. The filly is a half-sister to Twickenham (1:51.4 - $101,959).
Lady Shadow took home the lion’s share of the $18,000 purse in the second division thanks to her come-from-behind tally for driver Scott Zeron. The Gregg McNair-trained lass survived a first-over journey and drew clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Shhh Its A Secret in 1:56.3. Third prize went to K O Justice who rallied from next-to-last in the nine-filly affair.
Sent off at odds of 13-1, the daughter of Shadow Play-Lady Camella prevailed for owners Lindsey & Connie Rankin of Lexington, MI. Purchased for $19,000 from the 2012 Forest City Yearling Sale, Lady Shadow has a number of speedy siblings including Lady Meghan O (1:50.4 - $465,877).
Lomangino Standardbreds’ Ramblin Rose captured her division in 1:56.2, and she did so in an authoritative manner for driver Mario Baillargeon. The homebred sat fifth for the first half of the contest before powering to the lead in the backstretch and roaring away to the win by 3-1/4 lengths over Justabit Mean. Warrawee Phoebe took home the show dough.
Martin Lachance trains the daughter of Artistic Fella-Nukes Last Dream who was making her first lifetime start.
Catwoman parlayed a ground-saving trip into a maiden-breaking performance in the fourth division for the duo of driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Murray Brethour. Jakardez led to the quarter pole in :28.1 before being pressed by Wishful Luck through middle splits of :58.1 and 1:27.4. The battling took its toll on those two, and it left the door wide open for Catwoman to pounce. Catwoman’s :29.4 closing quarter earned her the 1:57.4 score by three-quarters of a length over Jakardez and Wishful Luck, who finished a dead-heat for the runner-up award.
Brethour shares ownership on the Jeremes Jet with Doug Millard of Woodstock and David Heffering of Port Perry, and collectively the partners watched the filly boost her lifetime earnings to $9,320 with the win. Purchased for $10,000 at the 2012 Canadian Yearling Sale, Catwoman is out of the 100% producing mare, Bolero Micket. She’s the dam of Tara Micket (1:53.3 - $108,526) and The Riddler (1:52 - $82,924).
Badlyinclined capped off the OSS parade with a 1:56 triumph in the final division. Randy Waples rallied the daughter of Badlands Hanover-Artisticlyinclined to the win by 1-3/4 lengths over Momara, with Gram Rules another length back in third.
John Kopas trains the homebred, who was sent off as the 3-2 favourite, for Glengate Farms of Campbellville, LLK Stable of Mississauga and her breeder, Big Als Stables Inc, of Woodbridge, ON. The stakes-winning youngster is a half-sister to Athleticlyinclined (1:52.1 - $263,432).
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.