Eloise Eden and Rick Zeron kicked off Tuesday’s Grassroots battles with an impressive tour around the Georgian Downs oval that saw them coast home six-length winners in 1:58.1.
Sporting a shiny new pair of trotting hopples, Eloise Eden fired out of Post 3 and had a six length lead on the field of two-year-old trotting fillies by the time she reached the :28.2 quarter. A stunning 12 lengths ahead by the :57.3 half, Zeron took his foot off the gas and allowed the field to get within four lengths by the 1:28 three-quarters, but drew away again in the stretch to hit the wire just two-fifths of a second slower than the Georgian Downs track record for freshman trotting fillies.
Fan favourite Pointe De Vue settled for second in the sizzling mile, with SOS Allinone right behind her in third.
Zeron engineered the impressive win for trainer Ted MacDonnell and owner-breeder Mark Bowser of Charlottesville, VA.
In her first two Grassroots starts Eloise Eden had made early breaks that knocked her out of contention, so MacDonnell qualified the daughter of Ken Warkentin and $289,210 winner Princess Peri with the trotting hopples on July 27 at Mohawk Racetrack. Eloise Eden delivered a flawless 1:59.1 victory in that qualifier and Tuesday’s perfect trip boosted her into contention for a Grassroots post season berth with two regular season events remaining.
Driver Paul MacDonell piloted two fillies to Grassroots wins on Tuesday. The Guelph resident engineered a successful come-from-behind effort for Armstead Kyra in the fourth Grassroots division and a pocket trip for Perkiest Hanover in the fifth.
Starting from Post 2 with Armstead Kyra, MacDonell eased the filly away from the starting gate and was sitting fourth when Little Red Chev gained control at the :29.2 quarter. Shuffled back to sixth by the :58.4 half, MacDonell tipped the filly out heading for the 1:29.1 three-quarters and, after circling out three-wide, gained the lead.
Armstead Kyra powered down the stretch to a four and three-quarter length victory over Random Margin and P C Momma Mia, stopping the teletimer at 1:59.3.
The win was Armstead Kyra’s first. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Paus Awhile started her Ontario Sires Stakes campaign with a sixth in the June 28 season opening Gold Eliminations at Kawartha Downs and then finished third in her Grassroots debut at Dresden Raceway on July 29.
Mike Keeling conditions Armstead Kyra for owner-breeder Dr. Roland Armitage of Dunrobin.
Also starting from Post 2 with Perkiest Hanover, MacDonell was able to drop the filly onto the rail behind early leader High Musclemass and trail that filly through fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:29.4. In the stretch MacDonell asked Perkiest Hanover for another gear and the Majestic Son miss answered with a smart finishing kick that propelled her to a three-quarter length victory in 1:59.4. High Musclemass had to settle for second, with Uliane Bayama well back in third.
Jason Gilchrist trains Perkiest Hanover for A K Malik Stable of Ottawa, who offered up $12,000 for the filly at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. In her first two Grassroots appearances Perkiest Hanover made a miscue and finished eighth in the season opener and then recorded a steady fourth-place result from the six-hole at Dresden.
Princess Lilly also recorded a sub-2:00 performance in her Grassroots division, controlling the tempo from start to finish before sailing under the wire four lengths on top in 1:58.4. Hula Majic finished second and Bop Too The Top rounded out the top three.
Mario Baillargeon piloted Princess Lilly to the win for his brother, trainer Benoit Baillargeon of Rockwood, and owner Les Ecuries Piramidan of Gatineau, QC. The daughter of Muscle Mass and Golden Goose, a $19,000 purchase out of the Harrisburg sale, made a break and finished sixth in her Grassroots debut at Hanover Raceway on July 21.
The other Grassroots trophies went home with Massive Babe in 2:00; Stormont Hotplate in 2:00.2; Orderingin in 2:00.3; and Busta Thunder in 2:02.1.
The two-year-old trotting fillies make their second last regular season Grassroots start at Grand River Raceway on August 15, while the two-year-old trotting colts arrive at Georgian Downs for their fourth Grassroots event on Tuesday, August 14.
(OSS)
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.