Five $20,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for three-year-old filly pacers were contested at Flamboro Downs this evening and driver Brad Forward used front-end tactics to score in two of the fastest splits.
In the card's opener, Slaley was sent straight to front by Forward from Post 2. The Grinfromeartoear filly had no qualms about that as she led through fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25.3. With a four and a half length lead, Slaley finished the mile in 1:54.
Longshot Speed Mcqueen (Thomas Hamm) closed for second and A New Scentsation (Bruce Richardson) finished third.
The Bill Robinson pupil notched her seventh win in 11 starts this year boosting her total bankroll to $64,812 for Gerrie Tucker of Montreal, Que. and Ian Fromowitz of Richmond Hill, Ont.
Forward found himself in the winner's circle again after steering another filly to victory in wire-to-wire fashion. In her division, St Lads Seraph left from the inside post, carving out fractions of :27.3, :56.4 and 1:25.4 before stopping the clock in 1:55.
Doinsomethingright (Stuart Sowerby) was the runner-up with Hally (Michael Langdon) finishing third.
St Lads Seraph took a new mark with her first win of the season in 10 starts. The Northern Luck filly, who is trained and co-owned by Sandra Spencer and co-owner Kathleen Brogan of Windsor, Ont., increased her lifetime earnings to $131,427.
In the second division, Nika (Ross Battin) left from the inside post, but Slomotion (Bruce Richardson) swept up to post the opening panel in :27.4. The daughter of Camotion charged on through fractions of :56.4 and 1:27.2 en route to a 1:56.2 victory by over two lengths.
Nika rode the pocket to finish second while Stylish Fit (Brad Forward) took the show spot.
Slomotion, who is trained by Scott Barr, has six wins to her credit in 12 starts. Her earnings total $47,994 for Mervin and Darlene Smith of Dorchester, Ont.
Dreamfair Shannie notched her third consecutive win of the season in another division for trainer Marvin Waite and owners John and Mary Lamers of Ingersoll, Ont.
In rein to Mike Whelan, the Dreamfair Vogel miss posted the opening quarter in :28.3. With All Accounted For (Randy Waples) applying first over pressure through a :59 half and 1:28.1 third quarter, the pacesetter fought back, crossing the wire first by half a length in 1:57.2. Bunny Mach (Bruce Richardson) stayed for third.
Whelan also picked up a driving double in the final division on the card. Everyones Fantasy (Michael Langdon) posted the opening panel of :27.2 with Greek Beach right there on the outside. Greek Beach posted a :56.1 half before coming under attack by Keystone Mystique (Travis Bowman), but after reaching the third quarter pole in 1:26.2, the Astreos filly took off by almost four lengths, winning in 1:55.1.
Gerries Madison (Brad Forward) came on for second with Everyones Fantasy finishing third.
Rob Fellows trains and co-owns the three-time winner for co-owners Carey Fellows of Peterborough, Daniel Knechtel of Cambridge and Sean Strongman, Kitchener, Ont. Her lifetime earnings total $65,708.
To view Thursday's results, click here.