With a first over attack that took her three-wide at the third quarter, even money favourite Incantation delivered the fastest of the three $20,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for two-year-old filly trotters on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Hiawatha Horse Park.
Garrett Rooney settled the daughter of Muscle Mass - More Magic into sixth early from post eight as Stovid (Travis Henry) and Ibelieveinangels (Anthony Haughan) fronted the field through the first fractions of :29.1 and :59.4. Rooney asked his filly to pressure the pacesetter approaching the half, and was pushed three wide around that mark through the 1:29.4 third station. Turning for home, Incantation and Ibelieveinangels were on near even terms and both fillies fought valiantly to the wire but Incantation proved a neck the best in 1:59.3. Stovid stayed for third.
Owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor and Tyrone Valley Farm of Bowmanville, Ont., Incantation ($4.00) picked up her second win in seven starts. Her bankroll now stands at $51,887.
Minding her manners in a field of fractious fillies, Royal Sauce ($16.70)benefitted from a patient Travis Henry steer for her first lifetime victory in the second Grassroots division.
Leaving from the rail, Royal Sauce and Henry got away what appeared would be fifth early but that quickly became the two hole as three forwardly-placed fillies made breaks before or just after the opening quarter. Thus, Angelic (Haughan) handled the business on top through a 1:00.2 half, and then ceded to a challenging Resolve Indeed (Daryl Thiessen) just before the 1:29.4 third station. Henry had room to angle and pop the plugs on Royal Sauce as Resolve Indeed cleared, and his filly had the most pop late. With a :30.4 final quarter, she cruised home more than two lengths the best with the timer stopped at 2:01. Resolve Indeed stayed for second, holding off Core Resolve (Steve Byron).
Gregg McNair trains Royal Sauce (Muscle Mass - Royal Rhythm) for High Stakes Stable Inc. of Farmington Hills, Mi. With the win, her earnings nearly doubled to $20,800.
Back more than 13 lengths at the first quarter, All Star Angel ($26.90) didn't stop her pursuit of the leaders and picked off a pair of duelling rivals late for the first win of her career in the third and final Grassroots division.
Sister Sara (Nick Boyd) did the heavy lifting in this one, setting fractions of :28.1, 1:00.1 and 1:29.4 while repelling rival Princess Dream (Rooney) through the middle fractions. Austin Sorrie had positioned All Star Angel into fourth by this point, thought about ducking to the inside of Green Mans Joy (Henry) but then thought better of it and right-lined his filly to challenge. That decision proved fruitful, as a shift to the outer flow placed All Star Angel second over around the far turn, and she easily trotted past her tiring rivals for the 2:00.1 score. Green Mans Joy shot up the inside to finish 1-1/2 lengths back of the leader in second, with Princess Dream at the bottom of the triactor ticket.
A daughter of My MVP - Celestial Angel, All Star Angel was making just her third start for trainer Rachel Andrew and owner Murray Graham MacDonald of Belfast, P.E.I. The lion's share of the purse gives her earnings of $12,400.
The final leg of the Grassroots for two-year-old trotting fillies is set for Sept. 16 at Grand River Raceway.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Sarnia, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hiawatha Horse Park.
(Standardbred Canada)