The Ontario Sires Stakes returned to Hanover Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 30 with a pair of $25,000 Grassroots divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.
No Better Air ($2.70) and driver Trevor Henry made every call a winning one in the first OSS Grassroots division. Leaving from post three, Henry cleared Drill Bit Penny (Samuel Fillion) heading into the first turn and was never headed from there. After comfortable quarters of :29.3, 1:00.3 and 1:29.3, No Better Air sprinted home in :29.2 to win by more than four in 1:59. Drill Bit Penny was best of the rest, holding on for second over Annies Diva (Jody Jamieson).
Scott McEneny of Carlisle, Ont. trains and co-owns No Better Air along with Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc. of Lakefield Gore, Que. and Aristi Varsakis of Hamilton, Ont. The daughter of Cattlewash - Claireabell now sports a 2-1-2 summary from six appearances with earnings of $46,024.
Talbot Kristen ($4.20; pictured above) didn't have a win on her résumé coming into Saturday's stakes event but the freshman filly left Hanover with a new speed badge thanks to her maiden-breaking effort. Bob McClure had the even-money choice off the pace in fourth as Brisk Seelster (Jamieson) set early fractions of :29.1 and 1:00.3. McClure angled to the outside in front of the grandstand for the first time, and allowed Talbot Kristen to grind away at the leader. Talbot Kristen cleared before the 1:29.3 third quarter and powered away with a :29.1 final panel to best Playsomethingsweet (Travis Henry) by three lengths in 1:58.4. Malicia Speed (Trevor Henry) hit the bottom of the triactor ticket, finishing third.
A daughter of Cattlewash from Kit Kat Artist, Talbot Kristen is co-owned by trainer John Pentland along with Doug Wilson of Dorchester, Gary Volpe of St. Thomas and Alan Alber of Thornhill, Ont. The bay filly has made six starts, finishing first or second in four (1-3-0) for earnings of $31,500.
To view the complete results from the Saturday card of harness racing in Grey-Bruce, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)