Blue Rare won the fastest of four $25,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Leg 3A divisions for freshman trotting fillies to break her maiden at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday, Aug. 6.
James MacDonald, kicking off a Grassroots double, sent the daughter of Muscle Mass-Pinky Lee to the top from third after a :28 first quarter and gave her a breather to the half in :58.3. The filly shrugged off a challenge from Miss Mass Appeal (Trevor Henry) on the approach to three-quarters in 1:28.1, then resisted pocket-tripper Press On Ballykeel (Tyler Borth) down the lane to score in 1:58. Press On Ballykeel missed by a length, with Upgrade (Todd Ratchford) a half-length behind her in third.
Blue Rare debuted on June 26 with a fourth-place finish in the Tompkins-Geers, then was second in the Grassroots a month later. The Dominic Gladu-trained rookie is now one-for-three for The Stable’s Blue Rare Group of Brunswick, Ohio. She paid $6.50 to win.
Twin B Showbiz, MacDonald’s other Grassroots winner, atoned for a break on debut with a two-move victory in the third split. She went to the top in a :28.4 first quarter before ceding command to Makina Run For It (Bob McClure) heading into the second turn. The latter led through the half in :59 and three-quarters in 1:29.1, but Twin B Showbiz fired up the passing lane to prevail by a half-length over Makina Run For It in 1:58.3. Rare Legacy (Borth) finished third.
Chantal Mitchell trains Twin B Showbiz for James Crawford of Erieville, N.Y. The Muscle Mass-Showstopper filly returned $13 to her backers.
Canukeepasecret ($5.20) was anything but subtle in the first division, wiring the field in 1:59 and reaching the line 3-1/4 lengths the best over Elbows Up (Bob McClure) with Evangelista (Travis Cullen) third. Jody Jamieson drove the daughter of Muscle Mass-More Magic, who broke her maiden in her sixth start for trainer Jeff Williams and owners Mardon Stables, Tyrone Valley Farm, and Hudson Standardbred Stb Inc.
Green Moni Queen ($4.30) closed down the middle of the track to take the final split by a length in 1:58.3. Karmaisaqueen (Borth) finished second over Lake Buena Vista (Jamieson). McClure piloted the winner, a daughter of Green Manalishi S-Essence Of Lindy, for trainer Shawn Steacy and owners Landmark 18 Racing Stable, Stephen Downey, Dan Mogridge, and Mark Steacy.
There were also two $8,000 Prospect Series Leg 3A dashes for freshman filly trotters. The winners were Just Call Me Bella ($22.90) in 2:02 with Daryl Thiessen at the lines, and Life Is Great ($6.80) in 2:00, driven by Jamieson.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)