Sudbury Downs wrapped up its 2011 Ontario Sires Stakes season with a track record performance by two-year-old trotting filly Majestic Taglet
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Mario Charron had Majestic Taglet moving sharply away from Post 6 when the gates swung open, and the filly landed in third spot on the rail, watching Breewood Bella lead the field to a :30.1 opening quarter. Breewood Bella made a break and handed control of the race to pocket-sitter De La Noche before the 1:01.1 half and Charron tipped his filly to the outside.
Majestic Taglet had a short lead from the outside at the 1:31.3 three-quarters and the Majestic Son lass went on to a one length triumph over Margarita De Vie and De La Noche in a track record 2:02. The time of the mile lowered Live In Love's mark by over one full second.
Charron crafted the victory for trainer Claude Beausoleil and owners Roland Rocco of Lasalle, Que., and Benoit Gendron of Beaconsfield, Que. Through six starts the filly has tallied four wins and one third, earning her owners $32,980.
Barbie And Ken was not far off Majestic Taglet’s record setting pace in the eighth race, touring the Sudbury half-mile in 2:02.4. Tymal Breezee, owned by Gerry and Brenda Gauthier of Azilda, Ont. and Paul MacLean of Chelmsford, Ont., finished four and three-quarter lengths back in second, and early leader Stormont Fried was well back in third.
Trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, Ont. shares ownership of Barbie And Ken with Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, Ont. and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio. Saturday’s effort marked the Ken Warkentin daughter’s first appearance in the winner’s circle, and gave her a much needed boost up the Grassroots point standing with only one event remaining in the regular season.
Driver Garrett Whelan piloted a pair of fillies to Grassroots glory on Saturday, scoring with Thundering Ovation in Race 3 and Can I Say in Race 4. Whelan employed come-from-behind tactics with both fillies, guiding Thunder Road daughter Thundering Ovation from sixth at the half to a three-quarter length victory over J N Lisa and Sturdy As A Hall. The 2:05.2 win was Thundering Ovation’s first in three lifetime starts for trainer Gerald Sloan and owners Joanne and Courtney Sloan of Harley, Ont.
One race later Whelan and Can I Say started from the trailing Post 9 and hustled from fourth at the three-quarter marker to a one and one-quarter length victory over Im On Cloud Nine and Winbak Tess. The win was the Fourth And One filly’s second since trainer Jim Whelan added trotting hopples to her equipment bag. The senior Whelan, who makes his home in Troy, Ont., shares ownership and the breeding credit on Can I Say with Terry and Clarence Devos of Langton, Ont.
The other Grassroots battles were won by Quantum Ladydabra in 2:04.2; Warrawee Nuke in 2:04.2; and Tymal Teegan in 2:05.3.
The two-year-old trotting fillies make their final bid for Grassroots points at Georgian Downs on Sept. 13, and the top 16 point earners will then advance to a pair of Grassroots Semifinals at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 23. The top four finishers from each Semifinal will return to Mohawk on Oct. 1 for the $100,000 Grassroots Championship.
Sudbury Downs fans were treated to three outstanding Grassroots events in 2011, witnessing track records set by both the three-year-old pacing fillies and two-year-old trotting fillies.
In other racing action Saturday night in Sudbury, Post 10 starter Real Simple made a three-wide move at the third quarter station and rallied home to score the 1:58.3 victory over pacesetter After The Battle in the lone $8,500 Young Guns Series second leg division. Wayne MacLean drove the Real Artist four-year-old, who was a dominant 11 length winner in the opening leg on Aug. 27, for trainer Meighan MacLennan and owner Dwight Lamkey of Black River Bridge, N.B.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Tags