The second night of Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Semifinals at Campbellville's Mohawk Racetrack determined which of the top point earning three-year-olds of the season will advance to the championships
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The top five finishers from each event earned a spot in their divisional $100,000 Grassroots Championships, set for October 1.
Eight $30,000 semifinals were contested during tonight’s card and Trot Insider has provided updates on all the action below.
Trotting Fillies
Here Comes Jenny ($6.50) kicked off the sophomore semifinals with a wire-to-wire 1:56.4 win in Saturday night's opener. The homebred daughter of Here Comes Herbie, driven by Mario Baillargeon, held off the quick-closing Second Avenue, who managed to duck back down to the pylons avoiding the parked out Post 10 starter Mutinys Child as that filly faded down the backside. Quantum Victoria went wide and came on for third while Magical Paige followed and rallied home off cover for fourth. Pocket-sitter Out Of The Kitchen slipped between horses to get fifth in the close five-horse photo finish.
Trainer Allen Tomlinson, Duane and Janice Chippi of Michigan share ownership of the filly, who finished second in the divisional standings with two wins, two seconds, one third and one fourth place effort from six Grassroots starts during the regular season.
Post 9 starter Defy Time ($27.80) and driver Scott Coulter stormed home from the back of the pack with a :28.2 final quarter to score a career-best 1:56.3 victory in another close finish. Zorgwijk Lunar, Tropical Breeze As, Honey Thorn and Some Like It Hot finished second through fifth to her inside.
Divisional leader Extraordinaire was the early tempo-setter, but made a break at the half as Some Like It Hot cleared in front.
The winning daughter of Southfork, who earned trophies in half of her six Grassroots starts during the regular season, is trained by Ian Downey for owners Susan Downey of St. George Brant, Ont., and Scott Maracle of Brantford, Ont.
Trotting Colts
Driven by Anthony MacDonald, favourite Here Comes Numbers ($4.40) swept to command from third down the backstretch and held off Winbak Hall to match his lifetime mark of 1:56.1. Drawing in off the also eligible list, Max Money advanced first over from fourth to show. Herecomesthechief and Frill Seeker finished fourth and fifth.
The gelded son of Here Comes Herbie is trained by John Drennan and owned by DDT Stable of Burlington, Ont. Here Comes Numbers recorded one win, two seconds and one third in five Grassroots appearances this season.
In the next event, Tymal Recap ($8.60) rushed up from third and cleared the lead past the half-mile marker under the guidance of driver Scott Coulter. The son of Ken Warkentin kept first over Major Herbie at bay as he kicked home to win in a career-best 1:55.4 by two lengths. Divisional leader Count Strike finished third with Tymal Colossus and Mandinga well back in fourth and fifth.
Trainer Sue Marie Gangell shares ownership of the bay gelding, who earned one Grassroots trophy from four starts during the season, with John Devito of Whitestone, New York.
Pacing Fillies
After sitting fifth along the rail for most of the mile with Jody Jamieson in the sulky, Back Yard Baby ($26.50) sprinted home to win the first semifinal for pacing fillies in a new lifetime mark of 1:52.1 over the popular pacesetter, Three Charms. Pearl Handpistol finished third after a three-hole trip while Dapple Apple and Post 10 starter Montenegro came on for the final championship spots.
John Curran trains the Mach Three miss for owner Kenneth Curran of Coldwater, Ont. Although Back Yard Baby was winless in six earlier Grassroots starts, she picked up cheques in five of those outings; the bay filly earned a pair of seconds and thirds, along with one fourth.
In the next event, Brush With Royalty ($21.30) and driver Sylvain Filion rallied home off second over cover to take a new lifetime mark of 1:53 flat. The daughter of Royal Mattjesty held off divisional leader Cameron Lucky, who closed from last, by half a length. Smartygirl finished one length behind in third while Cheryls Surprise and Modern Cinderella finished fourth and fifth.
The filly, who just made the semifinal cutoff after going winless in six Grassroots starts this year, is trained by James 'Friday' Dean for owner James Carr of Hamilton, Ont. She earned two seconds, one third, one fourth and two fifths thoughout the regular season.
Pacing Colts
With Jack Moiseyev in the sulky, Guns An Roses ($7.30) romped to a six length victory in the first semifinal for pacing colts, halting the teletimer in a career-best 1:50.1. Eastend Eddie and Rileys Luck came on for second and third place honours over the pocket-sitting Libertys Best Star. Stolen Car completed the top five finishers.
Frank Coville trains the homebred Life Sign gelding for owners Joanne Colville and Emma Christoforou of Moffat, Ont. Guns An Roses earned one win in five Grassroots starts during the regular season while picking up four cheques.
Divisional leader Musselsfrmbrussels ($9.60) wrapped up the semifinal action with a lifetime-best 1:50.2 score in rein to trainer Lyle MacArthur. The Post 7 starter cleared the lead after the opening quarter mark and cruised to the two length victory. Sonic Dancer rallied off cover to place while trailer Mach Wheel charged home to show. Oil Tumbles was fourth and Mach It Big earned the final championship spot.
Anne and Mike Shunock's Modern Art colt won four of his five regular season Grassroots events.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
For recaps and replays of Friday night’s two-year-old semifinals, click here.