Locally owned pacing filly On The Cusp was an effortless winner in her $24,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division at Georgian Downs on Friday evening
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Starting from Post 7, the three-year-old distaffer sprang off the starting gate and had settled into third by the time fan favourite Kims Quest (Scott Zeron) tripped the quarter mile timer at :27. Heading for the :56.1 half, driver Stephen Byron sent On The Cusp up the outside and by the 1:25 three-quarters she had a head in front of Kims Quest.
Turning for home, On The Cusp had opened up a one and one-half length lead and she was able to loaf down the stretch to a two length score in 1:55.3. Nifty Ace (Aaron Byron) finished second and Eyewitness Account (Randy Fritz), owned by Millar Farms of Newmarket, ON, finished third. Pacesetter Kims Quest faded to seventh.
The win was On The Cusp’s second straight, coming on the heels of a 1:53 score at Mohawk Racetrack on September 2. Thornton, ON resident Byron shares ownership of the Camluck miss with Sit N Go Stables of Barrie, ON, Ian MacIntosh of Alliston, ON, and John Van Reenen of Cayuga, ON. Through 11 starts the David Byron trainee has amassed a record of three wins, three seconds and two thirds for earnings of $53,505.
Highland Dancer scored the quickest mile of the seven Grassroots divisions, taking command just after the halfway marker and rolling home to a 1:52.4 clocking. Early pacesetter Wind Warning (Trevor Henry) finished two and a half lengths to the rear in second and fan favourite Holiday Shopper (Duke Sugg) rounded out the triactor.
Simon Allard engineered the victory for trainer Richard Moreau and owner Gestion Jean Yves Blais of Montreal, QC. Through 14 starts this season Highland Dancer now has four wins, one second and one third, banking $42,642. The win was the Mach Three daughter’s first in Ontario Sires Stakes action and gives her a total of 63 points in the race for one of 16 spots in the Grassroots post season. Heading into Friday’s test the cut off for the top 16 was 74 points.
Unfortunately, Allard could not match his winning technique in the seventh race and division leader Heavenly Ash suffered her first defeat of the season in Grassroots action. The point leader, who has four Grassroots victories to her credit, finished five and three-quarter lengths behind winner Miss Maverick.
In rein to Paul Mackenzie, Miss Maverick clocked fractions of :27, :56.3 and 1:24.3 and then dug hard in the stretch to fend off a late challenge from fan favourite Phenomenal Grace (Doug McNair) and stop the clock at 1:53.4. Lismorebella (Mike Langdon) finished third, three and a half lengths behind the leaders.
Marie St. Charles conditions Miss Maverick for E C S Racing LLC of Rockford, Michigan and has sent the Western Maverick daughter behind the gate 23 times this season, resulting in five wins, three seconds, six thirds and earnings of $38,884. Combined with a trio of third-place finishes in her first four Grassroots starts, Miss Maverick now has 86 points and could earn her way into the post season with another point earning effort in the final regular season event at Rideau Carleton Raceway on October 3.
Western Dancing made her first appearance in the Grassroots program a winning one, earning a neck decision in a race that saw the top four finishers separated by less than one length at the 1:54.2 finish.
Fan favourite Warm Waffles (Scott Zeron) controlled the tempo in the race, posting fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:25, but could not hold off a late charge by Western Dancing and Coconut Cove (Simon Allard), who is owned by Millar Farms. Fourth-place finisher The Mistress (Doug McNair) was only three-quarters of a length behind the leaders in the thrilling finish.
Colin Johnson conditions Western Dancing for Kellogg Racing Stables LL of Queensbury, New York, and Paul Mackenzie picked up his third win of the evening aboard the daughter of Western Terror. In addition to his Grassroots victories, the veteran reinsman also piloted B B Windfall to an overnight win in the ninth race. The win was the second this season for Western Dancing, who also has three seconds and two thirds to her credit through 20 sophomore starts.
The other Grassroots trophies went home with Exotic Pleasure and Aaron Byron in 1:53.4; All Chocolate and Scott Zeron in 1:53.4; and Oceans Motion and Doug McNair in 1:54.
The three-year-old pacing fillies make their last regular season start at Rideau Carleton Raceway on October 3, but Georgian Downs fans only have to wait until Tuesday, September 14 for their next dose of Ontario Sires Stakes excitement. The Innisfil oval will roll out the red carpet for the two-year-old pacing colts on Tuesday as they battle in their fourth Grassroots start.
To view Friday's results, click here.
(With files from OSS)