Only Lonely and Dave Boughton did it the hard way when they won the fourth and fastest of seven $15,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots events in track record time for two-year-old trotting fillies at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday.
Leaving from Post 7, Boughton had the Chris Beaver trainee away in third as Ocean Mist Dynasty (Mark Megens) was the fastest to the quarter pole in :28.4. Only Lonely (Yankee Pace - Too Good For You) pulled first-over on the way to the half and challenged Ocean Mist Dynasty through the middle portion of the race in :59.3 and 1:29.2.
Just a head back at the top of the stretch, she still had plenty left for Boughton as they cruised by the leader for a two and three-quarter length score in 1:59. That time lowered the previous record of 1:59.2 held by Whispering Girl in October 2004.
Ocean Mist Dynasty stayed for second while Tameka Seelster (Trevor Henry) was next best in the field, finishing almost eight-lengths back in third.
Tom Crouch bred and owns Only Lonely ($11.00), who recorded her first career win. She also has one third in seven starts as a freshman with a bankroll of $8,540.
In the first division, Whitesand Jazz (Angus Hall - Yankee Mission) won by a nose after coming first-over for Bruce Richardson. The Suzie Kerwood trained filly stopped the clock in 2:01 for her first career victory in three starts. Whitesand Jazz ($19.50) has earned $8,548.
The second split saw Live In Love (Striking Sahbra - Expressive Chip) lead for the first half-mile before yielding, just to come back in the lane for the half-length score. Randy Fritz drove the filly, who won in a lifetime best in 1:59.2. Gregg McNair trains Live In Love ($4.60), who is three-for-nine this season with earnings of $35,570.
Sass Away K (Super Pleasure - Sassy Way) was victorious from second-over in the third division for Bill O'Donnell. The Frank O'Reilly trained filly was a half-length the best in 2:02.2. It was the first lifetime win for Sass Away K ($13.50) in eight tries, who boosted her bankroll to $10,354.
In the fifth division, Elite Duchess (Duke Of York - Emilia Hanover) also used a second-over trip to find the winner's circle for Dave Wall. She stopped the tele-timer ahead by two-lengths in 2:01.1. Elite Duchess ($37.30) is perfect in two career starts for trainer Dan Creighton with earnings of $10,750.
Travelin Supergirl (Kadabra - Travelin Superlite) sat the pocket for Dave Wall in the sixth split and was able to find a lane down the stretch to win by a half-length in 2:00. The triumph was the second in six starts for the Mark Stacey trained Travelin Supergirl ($10.10), who has $29,826 made.
Finally, Whatta Hotty (Yankee Pace - Our Kuli Girl) pulled off the biggest upset of the night when she won the last division at 35-1. Driven by Garrett Whelan for trainer Jim Whelan, the filly was also a winner from second-over, going her mile in 2:00.3 for the length score. Whatta Hotty ($72.50) has a win and a third in two starts, good for earnings of $9,559.