Trainer Bob McIntosh and driver Randy Waples combined for an Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots hat trick at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday afternoon, landing two-year-old pacing fillies Pan Luis Obispo, Western Empress and Expresso Yourself in the winner’s circle.
Pan Luis Obispo led off the McIntosh Stable hit parade, delivering an impressive 10 and one-quarter length victory in her Grassroots debut. The No Pan Intended daughter posted a 1:56.4 mile, cruising home ahead of Jess Released and Duchess Killean.
Waples engineered the filly’s third straight victory for owner-breeder Peter Pan Stables of Pepper Pike, Ohio. In preparation for her Ontario Sires Stakes debut, Pan Luis Obispo had captured a pair of overnight events at Hiawatha Horse Park, the first on July 26 and the second on Aug. 2.
In the 10th race, Western Empress scored her second straight Grassroots victory with a commanding front end effort that saw her hit the wire three-quarters of a length in front of Ride Em Cowgirl and one and one-quarter lengths ahead of favourite Wildcat Hanna.
The 1:58.2 clocking was a personal best for Western Empress, a daughter of Western Maverick bred and owned by Windsor resident McIntosh, Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington and Larry Pollard of Harrow. Through four starts the filly boasts a record of three wins and one second for earnings of $27,625.
Milton resident Waples also opted for front end tactics with Expresso Yourself in the final Grassroots split and the filly battled to a neck victory over Windsong Jacoba. The leaders hit the wire in 1:57.3, just ahead of third-place finisher Hippie Chic.
Expresso Yourself finished third in her Grassroots debut at Woodstock Raceway on July 20, but had two wins in overnight action heading into Wednesday’s test. Expresso Yourself is owned by McIntosh and Paul Ysebaert of Mooretown, and the partners also bred the daughter of Stonebridge Regal and Electrical Express.
In addition to their three victories, McIntosh and Waples also teamed up for a second-place result with free-legged Release The Magic, a fifth with Its Perfect and a seventh with Take It All In.
Drivers Jody Jamieson and Scott Coulter picked up two Grassroots victories apiece, with Brantford resident Coulter crafting the quickest mile of the 10 divisions.
The reinsman set the tone for the afternoon in the first race, steering Keep The Dream to a 1:56 score for East West Racing Stable of Guelph, Donald Leschied of South Woodslee, breeder David McCallum of West Lorne and Ken Fitzgerald of Carlisle. The Mach Three daughter hit the wire one and one-quarter lengths ahead of favourite Raise Your Glass, with Island Blue earning the third-place share.
Travis Umphrey conditions Keep The Dream, whose first victory came in her third lifetime start and Grassroots debut.
Coulter was back in the Flamboro Downs winner’s circle following the ninth race with the second fastest time of the afternoon. Cams Macharena halted the teletimer at 1:56.3, hitting the wire three lengths ahead of Jess Released and Duchess Killean.
The win was Cam Macharena’s second in three outings. The Mach Three daughter is conditioned by Tony O’Sullivan for Chris Arold and Michael Drury of Strongsville, OH and Kenneth Kohut of Independence, OH.
Moffat resident Jamieson earned his Grassroots successes in the fourth and eighth races, piloting My Sweet Mandy to a 1:57.2 win in the fourth for trainer Allen Sisco. Darwin Shaver, Ann Shaver and Laura Perniciaro of Leslie, MI share ownership of the Mach Three daughter, who bested Regal Magic and Larjon Laura.
Embassy Seelster earned her second Grassroots trophy in the eighth race with a 1:57.3 score over Keystone Maddie and Ruthless Hill. Kelly Goodwin of Fowlerville, MI owns and trains the consistent daughter of Modern Art and Espirit Seelster.
The other Grassroots divisions were captured by Foolish Mind in 1:57.4; Jeremeyes Jewel in 1:58.1; and Racey Miss in 1:57.
The two-year-old trotting fillies make their fourth Grassroots start on August 23 at Hanover Raceway. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Flamboro Downs on Sunday, Sept. 2 with the second last Grassroots test for the three-year-old pacing fillies.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(OSS)