Diamondsbestfriend dominated the featured $32,000 two-year-old filly pace for Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots starters on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, defeating two of her top rivals in the division.
Canadian Blondes (Louis-Philippe Roy), fourth in the OSS Grassroots divisional standings, powered from post seven and glided over in front of Watchmeparty (Trevor Henry), who dropped in second, and Diamondsbestfriend, who got away third from the inside draw. Bob McClure eased Diamondsbestfriend, second in her Grassroots series leaderboard, to the top on the backstretch, and the Bulldog Hanover-Yellow Diamond filly distanced herself from the opposition going through the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.1.
Diamondsbestfriend obliged as McClure hustled her home, finishing in :27.2 for a 1:51.3 lifetime-best triumph. Canadian Blondes finished 2-1/2 lengths back in second, followed by Watchmeparty. Division leader Lyons Bulldog (Mark MacDonald) finished fifth.
Diamondsbestfriend improved to four-for-seven lifetime and raised her earnings to $69,900 for trainer Jack Darling, who owns the filly through Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge, Ont. She has won twice in the Grassroots in four series starts. The win price was $7.30.
The next Grassroots clashes for this cohort are scheduled for Sept. 12 at Hiawatha Horse Park (Leg 5A) and Sept. 21 at Mohawk (Leg 5B). The Grassroots final will be held on Oct. 3 at Mohawk.
To view Thursday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)