Semi-Final action for the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots series highlighted the Thursday, Sept. 20 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park with both gaits and sexes of freshmen standardbred contesting in two $20,000 eliminations for placement into the $50,000 finals.
At Will returned to put in another three-length victory in the first division of the two-year-old filly trot, winning as the odds-on favourite in 1:58.1.
Eramosa Magic set the pace through splits of :27.2 and :59.2 before driver Sylvain Filion sent the Julie Walker trainee after control. At Will overtook Eramosa Magic past the half and trotted away to a two-and-a-half length margin through a 1:29 third-quarter in progress to a three-and-three-quarter length victory over Eramosa Magic. Galaxy Seelster, stalking the top two, held third.
Owned by Layhoon Chan Brunner, Julie Walker and Ronald Piers, At Will, by Kadabra, won her second race in seven starts, collecting $31,170. She paid $3.80 to win.
Rebellious Lady also put in a three-length victory in the other split of the two-year-old filly trot, winning in 1:59.1.
The Robert Young trainee sat fourth, eight lengths off leader Luckyjohanna as she trotted to the quarter in :28.1. Slowing to the half in :59.4, Royaltys Pearl popped pocket and circled to the lead while Rebellious Lady remained in fourth but only five lengths away. Scott Young made his move with the Angus Hall filly approaching three-quarters, timed in 1:30.1, and swept to a three-and-three-quarter length victory over Nifty Trick tracking from second over. Royaltys Pearl held third.
Owned by Hugh Fitzpatrick, Rebellious Lady, returning $9.00 to win, won her second race in seven starts, collecting $28,754 in earnings.
A Royal Line brushed to the top heading to the half and held off the first-over bid of Royale Elite to win the first division of the two-year-old colt trot by a head in 1:59.
Paul MacDonell positioned the Royalty For Life gelding third as La Magic trotted to the quarter in :27.4. MacDonell tipped the Bob McIntosh trainee off the rail and rushed to the lead prior to a :59.1 half, where Royale Elite initiated his uncovered bid. Royale Elite trotted to within a half length of the lead through a 1:29.4 third-quarter and cut into his deficit through the sretch. A Royal Line managed to hold a head in front at the wire, handing Royale Elite second with 9-5 favourite La Magic three lengths back in third.
Owned by Robert McIntosh Stables, Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables, A Royal Line, winning his fourth race in nine starts, has collected $54,526 in earnings. He paid $6.00 to win.
Judge Ken swept to the lead and won in near wire-to-wire fashion in the second two-year-old colt trot.
Driver Phil Hudon sent the Bob McIntosh-trained gelding by Justice Hall to the front following a :27.1 opening quarter. Magical Journey followed suit but parked first over through a :57.2 half and began to drop back approaching three-quarters. Judge Ken held a two-length lead by the 1:27.3 third quarter and turned for home ahead of pocket-sitter Priceless Ruler, who closed into the lead through the stretch to finish a half-length behind in second. Cousin Peter, off a rail trip, rallied for third.
Winning his second race in nine starts, Judge Ken, owned by Robert McIntosh Inc., C S X Stables and Dave Boyle, has earned $37,010. He paid $8.50 to win.
Race-favourite Freya Seelster took the front past the quarter and opened a wide-enough margin to stroll home in 1:53.1 as others rushed late in the mile for minor honours.
The Mark Steacy-trained daughter of Sunshine Beach sat third behind pacesetter Hard Eight through a :27.1 opening quarter. Driver James MacDonald angled off the rail into the backstretch, clearing command prior to a :56.3 half. Under minimal pressure and with a two-length lead by three-quarters in 1:25.2, Freya Seelster kicked to a four-length advantage into the stretch, winning by three-quarter lengths in the end as Free Exchange stormed through the center of the track for second. Sports Flix, from first over, was third.
Owned by Katherine Steacy, Bertrand Gilhespy Stable, Shawn Steacy and Guy Haskell, Freya Seelster won her fourth race in six starts, earning $42,005. She paid $4.30 to win.
Sitting pocket, Jessicas Legacy launched off the pylons and pulled a 27-1 upset in the second two-year-old filly pace division.
Lady Driver drove for the lead from post nine, taking control from rail-starter Jessicas Legacy through a :27.1 opening quarter. She continued on the top with a three-length margin through a :57 half. Jessicas Legacy closed the gap as the tempo quickened to three-quarters, timed in 1:25.2, and shot off the rail into the stretch. Race-favourite Shadow Sparks, chasing first over, moved into second and Twin B Friendly held third as Jessicas Legacy hit the wire in 1:53.3.
Paying $57.40 to win, Jessicas Legacy, by Bettors Delight, competes for owner Robert Hamather. Trained by Anthony Beaton, she won her second race in eight starts, earning $30,209.
Chanting Hanover charged from off cover to hold off faster-closing The First Step and take the first two-year-old colt pace division in 1:54.1 by a half length.
Passionate Prince moved to take the top from early leader Sports Hero in :26.1 before yielding for the pocket to Better Moonon Over. B Stoney, positioned fourth, took his turn on the lead heading to the half and swept past Better Moonon Over before a :55.3 midpoint.
Passionate Prince tipped first over moving into the far turn, placing Chanting Hanover third over through the 1:25.1 third-quarter. Driver Louis Philippe-Roy fanned wide into the stretch and rallied past B Stoney while The First Step hit his best strides, recouping seven lengths in the stretch to just miss and settle for second. B Stoney held third.
Owned by trainer Colin Johnson along with partners Paul Johnson, William Greenhorn and Andrew Dick, Chanting Hanover, by Sportswriter, won his second race in eight starts, earning $30,125. He paid $11.40 to win.
Odds-on favourite Century Farroh circled to the lead before the half and continued on the lead through the wire to win the second two-year-old colt pace in 1:53.1.
Driver Sylvain Filion placed the Mach Three colt third as Maintenance Man took control from post nine, leading through a :27 opening quarter. The Dr. Ian Moore trainee made his move out of third into the backstretch and moved to the front before hitting the half in :56.2. He endured minor first-over pressure from Prairie Midnight by three-quarters in 1:25.4 and expanded his lead to four lengths into the stretch. Pocket-rider Wager On Me narrowed that margin through the lane to three-quarter lengths on the wire while Jms Delight, from second over, finished third five lengths away.
Owned by Ratchford Stable NS, Century Farroh won his third race in nine starts, earning $41,733. He paid $3.30 to win.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.