Nine $20,000 OSS Grassroots events for two-year-old trotting fillies highlighted the Friday night festivities at Grand River Raceway.
The first division saw Mapley reclaim the lead after the quarter and never surrender it from there for driver Dave Boughton. The Malabar Maple – Immortal Sahbra filly hung on by a half-length in 2:04.2 for trainer Chris Beaver and owners John Ryan Melsheimer, Tim Gentry and Scott Winegardner. It was the second Grassroots win for the filly, who has earnings of $20,000 in four starts.
Town Hall Babe took command past the quarter and went the distance for trainer/driver Wayne Henry in the second split. The Amigo Hall – Village Babe filly was two lengths the best at the wire, tripping the teletimer in a lifetime best 2:04.2. Henry Stable and Daniel McCann co-own the youngster, who is 2-2-1 in seven starts with a bankroll of $40,538.
Larissa made every call a winning one to break her maiden in the third tilt. Trainer George Zirnis handled the daughter of Amigo Hall – Lou Macs Pride, who won by a length and a half in 2:04.4. Owned by Brian Newman, Larissa has a win, second and third in seven attempts while putting $20,640 into her bank account.
Arona made her career debut an impressive one in the fourth division. Driven by Stuart Sowerby, the Chris Christoforou Sr. trainee turned back all challengers en route to a six-length romp in 2:04. Christoforou co-owns the Kadabra – Lenu filly with Banjo Farms.
Girlsruleboyslose took advantage of a late break by leader Magical Wand (Trevor Ritchie) to pick up her first lifetime win in the fifth split. The four-length victory in 2:06.2 gave trainer/driver Wayne Henry the OSS double on the card. The Earl – Katya Hanover filly is owned in partnership by Henry Stable and Glenview Livestock Ltd, who have seen her collect $20,116 in purses.
Pleasure Skate had a pleasurable trip on the front-end to also record the first win of her career in the sixth event. The Super Pleasure – Icecaper filly did all the work on the lead and was an easy three and a quarter-length winner in 2:05.3 for driver Charlie Norris. Keith Klages conditions Pleasure Skate for owner/breeder Robert Key, who has seen his filly earn $11,600.
Simply Stirling did it the hard way first-over for trainer/driver/owner Roy Jefferies in the seventh split. The daughter of Mr Lavec – Khaz Mcdust wore down the leader and trotted to her second Grassroots victory by four and a half lengths in 2:05. In five starts, she is 2-0-1 with earnings of $24,800.
B Cor Tanya made a seventh-to-first move in the middle half in the eighth division and recorded her second consecutive Grassroots win for trainer/driver Riina Rekila. The Muniteer – B Cor Janice filly took home the fastest winning time of the night when she tripped the teletimer in 2:02.3, on top by five and a half lengths. B Cor Tanya has made the transition from Gold competition for owner Esa Lahtinen, who has collected $39,947 in purses from seven starts.
Finally, Dutchess Seelster improved to two-for-two in her young career when she won the ninth event for driver Bruce Richardson and trainer Suzie Kerwood. The daughter of Duke Of York – Desi Sweet Sixteen took the lead at the half and kept on going, scoring by four and a quarter lengths in 2:05.2. Kerwood co-owns the youngster with partners Enviro Stables Ltd, Glenn Bechtel and Garth Bechtel, and she now has earnings of $13,250.
To view Grand River’s results, click here.