It took Pindars Grin two attempts, but on Wednesday evening the two-year-old pacing filly finally captured an Ontario Sires Stakes trophy at Grand River Raceway
.
Pindars Grin made her Ontario Sires Stakes debut in a Gold elimination at the Elora oval on July 5, but made an early break and finished well back of the leaders. On Wednesday the filly and driver Doug McNair delivered a flawless performance, sprinting away from Post 4 and controlling the pace through fractions of :28.2, :58.3, and 1:28.1, then digging in hard through the stretch to grab a neck victory and a Grassroots trophy.
Runner-up Epoxy Queen (Jack Moiseyev) made a break at the 1:58.1 finish, but the leaders were far enough ahead of the rest of the field that it did not affect her placing. Greggs Girl (Phil Hudon) rounded out the top three, four and one-quarter lengths to the rear.
Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh, ON trains Pindars Grin and shares ownership of the Grinfromeartoear daughter with breeder Michael Timpano of Orillia, ON and Ashley Morgan of Burlington, ON. Wednesday’s victory was the filly’s second straight at Grand River. Her first visit to the winner’s circle came on Aug. 4 when she posted a 1:57.2 score in an overnight event.
Pocket Of Gold scored the fastest victory of the six $24,000 Grassroots divisions, halting the Grand River teletimer at 1:57.3. “Mr. OSS”, Dave Wall gave the filly an impeccable steer, sitting in behind fan favourite Montenegro (Mike Saftic) through fractions of :29, :59.2, and 1:28.4 and then sliding out in the stretch to claim the three-quarter length win.
Montenegro had to settle for second, with Mias Star (Eric Carlson) getting a promotion from fourth to third due a late break by Tanned For Life (Moiseyev).
Pocket Of Gold has been a steady performer thus far for trainer Dean Wall and owners Wall Tyme Stables Inc. of Komoka and Michael Guest of Boca Raton, FL. Through five starts she boasts two wins and two thirds, with her only off the board finish coming in an elimination for Grand River’s Battle of the Belles Stake where she suffered early interference and was placed from sixth into fifth. Wednesday’s win boosted the Rambaran daughter’s bank roll to $20,830.
Grand River fans were treated to a thrilling finish in the second division as the top three fillies crossed the line abreast in 1:59. Fan favourite The Big Macher delivered an impressive effort up the outside to secure the nose victory, with pacesetter and former Grassroots winner Lucky Taryn (Saftic) hanging on to second place a neck ahead of pocket sitter Stonebridge Damsel (Moiseyev).
Randy Waples engineered The Big Macher’s win for trainer Bob McIntosh and owner-breeder Randi Biederman of Maidstone, ON. The daughter of Mach Three and Vodka On Ice is a perfect two-for-two, also posting a win in her racing debut at Hiawatha Horse Park on Aug. 5.
In the fourth $24,000 division, Eternal Luck and driver Michael Whelan wired the field in 2:00 for trainer Rebecca Titus and owner Suttons Bay Racing of Ada, Michigan. The battle was for second, and Chappies Girl (Nick Steward) and B R Lucky Lady (Ernie Hendry) were so close at the wire racing officials ruled it a dead-heat for the place position.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Modern Best and Doug McNair in 2:00.2 and Modern Cinderella and Trevor Henry in 1:58.3. The two-year-old pacing fillies will make their third Grassroots start on August 28 at Kawartha Downs.
Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at Grand River Raceway on Monday, August 23 when the Elora oval plays host to the lightning fast three-year-old pacing colts, competing in their fourth Grassroots event.
In regular racing action, Lady Latte matched her 1:53.2 track record for aged pacing mares that she set in a Fillies & Mares Invitational Pace on Industry Day.
The four-year-old roan daughter of No Pan Intended-Miss Jeki raced past panels of :27.2, :55.4 and 1:24.3 en route to a five and three-quarter length score in the ninth race condition event. Shellace (Mike Whelan) and Stonebridge Celest (Nick Steward) followed along in second and third.
William Hamm trains the winner of 11 races in 19 starts for Craig Turner and Mhairi Kersel of Ingersoll, ON. With her 20th career win, Lady Latte pushed her earnings to $58,750 for 2010 and $108,561 lifetime.
To view Wednesday's results, click here.
(With files from OSS)