Bill O’Donnell proved that he still has the magic touch on Wednesday afternoon, capturing two Grassroots divisions at Flamboro Downs and finishing second in another
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The Acton resident opened the Grassroots program with a victory aboard Chris Beaver trainee Mapley. Starting from Post 9 in the first $24,000 Grassroots division, O’Donnell hustled the three-year-old trotting filly out of the trailing position and settled her in third as fan favourite Brie Seelster (Dave Boughton) reached the opening quarter in :29.2.
O’Donnell opted not to sit for long, sending Mapley after the lead before the :59 half and leading the field to a 1:28.2 three-quarters. On top by four lengths when she turned for home, Mapley cruised under the wire a half length winner in 1:59.2.
Senorita Conchnita (Stephen Scrannage) circled out three-wide to claim the runner-up spot, and Igual Que Tu (Scott Zeron), owned by Westdale Stables of Hamilton and Caryl Leigh Mackenzie of Elora, rounded out the top three.
Chris Beaver trains Mapley for John Ryan Melsheimer of Hopewell, Ohio and Tim Gentry and Scott Winegardner of Newark, Ohio. Wednesday’s victory was the first this season for the daughter of Malabar Maple.
O’Donnell made his second appearance in the Flamboro winner’s circle after the ninth race, when he engineered a 1:59.4 victory for another daughter of Malabar Maple.
Starting from Post 2 with Maplewood, the Hall of Fame horseman once again settled into third on the rail through the early going. Fan Favourite Lindy Of My Dreams (Jody Jamieson) cruised unchallenged to the :30 quarter, but was soon under pressure from Maplewood, who stepped to the outside heading for the 1:00 half and had a nose in front by the 1:29.2 three-quarters.
Turning for home O’Donnell had Maplewood on top by just over a length, and the filly sprinted down the stretch to a five and three-quarter length victory over Lindy Of My Dreams and Lunar Stream (Stephen Byron).
O’Donnell drives and trains Maplewood for Maxine Hadlock of Littleton, New Hampshire, and has sent the filly behind the gate 11 times this season for a record of two wins, three seconds and four thirds.
In his only other Grassroots start, O’Donnell finished second behind another trainer/driver who enjoyed a two-win afternoon. Per Henriksen piloted Serenas Genie to victory in the seventh race and wrapped up his afternoon with a win behind Stonebridge Encore in Race 11.
Andrea Lea Racing Stables Inc., of Lakefield Gore, Que. own Serenas Genie, who carved out a gate-to-wire victory in Race 7, reaching the finish one quarter length ahead of Baskin Wonder in 2:00.2. Alan Wallace of Troy owns Baskin Wonder (Gary Wallace), who was seven lengths in front of third-place finisher JBS Lili (John Kovacs).
Henriksen also controlled the pace in the final Grassroots contest, landing Stonebridge Encore her second win of the season with a 1:59.4 effort. O’Donnell was second with Chris Beaver trainee Maple Point (Bill O'Donnell), and Pajama Land (Jeff O'Brien) rounded out the top three. Breeder Angie Stiller of Arva and Robert Kauffman of New Albany share ownership on Angus Hall miss Stonebridge Encore, who is a full-sister to $3.2 million winner Peaceful Way.
The quickest mile of the Grassroots program was logged by Daylon Mystique and trainer/driver Wayne Henry, who stopped the clock at 1:58 in the sixth race. The Amigo Hall miss cruised under the wire six lengths up on Winning Agenda (Roger Mayotte), who is owned by Carolyn MacIsaac of Milton and Stephen Chartrand of Hampton and 10 lengths ahead of Siena Belle (Keith Oliver).
The win was the second straight in Grassroots action for Daylon Mystique, who is owned by the Henry Stable of Arthur and Dan McCann of Parkhill.
Henry landed a second training win when his brother Trevor Henry piloted Girlsruleboyslose to a 2:00.3 score in the third race. The Earl daughter stormed down the stretch to steal a half length win from fan favourite Found An Angel (Stephen Byron). Jewelcrest (Jody Jamieson) completed the triactor, eight lengths behind the leaders. The Henry Stable shares ownership on Girlsruleboyslose with Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein.
The other Grassroots divisions were captured by Stonebridge Marita in 1:59.2 and Stonebridge Diva in 2:00.3.
The sophomore trotting fillies will make their fifth Grassroots start at Kawartha Downs on September 19. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Flamboro Downs on Wednesday, September 16 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old trotting colts.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click here.
(With files from OSS)