Up until Saturday, three-time Lampman Cup winner Jody Jamieson had been trailing rival Brad Forward in the Ontario Sires Stakes driver’s standings, but a five win afternoon at Woodstock Raceway put the Cambridge resident right back in the hunt for a fourth title
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Jamieson kicked off the afternoon’s two-year-old pacing filly Grassroots program with a pair of victories for trainer Timothy Pinske. Over a track rated one second slower than normal the reinsman engineered a 2:00.3 triumph for Heavenly Ash in the first $24,000 Grassroots division and a sharp 1:58.3 victory for Gracie Montana in the second.
Starting from Post 6, Heavenly Ash sprinted away from the starting gate and led through all stations, reaching the wire two and one-quarter lengths ahead of Francis (Terry Fritz) and Modern Arrow (Reg Gassien) to record her first lifetime victory. Pinske trains the Royal Mattjesty daughter for his partners in the Pinske Stables of Plato, Minnesota.
Pinske Stables bred and own Gracie Montana, who also went gate-to-wire in her impressive four and a half length victory over fan favourite Lily Ellie (David Wall) and Illiushin Bomber (Kevin Wallis). Saturday’s triumph was the Camluck daughter’s second straight in Grassroots action.
After sitting out Race 3, Jamieson was right back in the winner’s circle following the fourth race, teaming Lyons Foreverlaura to an off-the-pace score for trainer Shawn Robinson. Starting from Post 3, Jamieson settled the Astreos miss into fourth on the rail, then stepped out behind Gotta Bounce (Brad Forward) as that filly started an assault up the outside on pacesetter Twin B Sensual (Trevor Henry).
Turning for home first time starter Lyons Foreverlaura was only one and a half lengths off the pace, and a smart finishing kick over the off track propelled her to a four and one-half length victory in 2:00. Dixie Allstar (Kevin Wallis) and Whats Your Fantasy (Lanny Merriman)finished in second and third behind Lyons Foreverlaura, who is owned by Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford.
Jamieson finished out of the money with his mounts in the fifth, sixth and seventh races, then teamed up with trainer Bill Robinson to claim the last two divisions.
Aboard heavy favourite Lyons Anitacol in the eighth race, Jamieson put the E Dees Cam daughter on cruise control and sailed around the Woodstock half-mile to a 1:58.3 triumph over a track that had been downgraded to three seconds slower than normal. Addison Bay (Jason Brewer) finished two lengths behind the winners, while Mobro Flirt (Scott Zeron) was seventeen lengths back in third.
Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford owns Lyons Anitacol, who now has two Grassroots trophies to her credit.
Jamieson wrapped up his exceptional afternoon with a front-end trip around the Woodstock oval behind Windsong Gentille, who reached the wire seven and three-quarter lengths the best in 2:00.3. Miss Maverick (Brad Forward) and St Lads Moxie (Mark Williams) battled into second and third.
Breeder Bill Loyens of London, Harry Loyens of Ilderton and Vito Frijia of London share ownership on Modern Art daughter Windsong Gentille, who is flawless through three Grassroots starts and currently shares ownership of top spot in the division standings with Misty Moonstone.
Misty Moonstone captured her division on Saturday with a 2:00 effort, with the other three divisions going to Ja Taime in 2:00.4; Vibrent Ally in 2:02.3; and Give The Gift, who was piloted to a 1:59.4 triumph by reigning Lampman Cup champion Brad Forward.
The two-year-old pacing fillies make their fourth Grassroots start at Sudbury Downs on Sept. 19.
Saturday’s contest wrapped up Woodstock Raceway’s 2009 Ontario Sires Stakes season, which also featured outstanding displays of talent from the three-year-old pacing colts, and the three-year-old trotting fillies.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.
(OSS)