SARNIA, ON – AUG. 8, 2019 – Ontario Sires Stakes excitement arrives at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, Aug. 10 with five divisions of two-year-old trotting fillies competing in their third Grassroots Leg.
Zebs Flur made her debut in the Grassroots program, finishing third in the July 14 season opener at Georgian Downs, and then jumped up to the Gold Series for her second Ontario Sires Stakes start where she finished second over the Grand River Raceway half-mile on July 24. The filly returns to the Grassroots for her third provincial appearance and will start from Post 1 in the second $23,500 division.
"She's surprised us, let's put it that way, for the price of her and where she came from," said Wyoming resident Don Allensen, who shares ownership of Zebs Flur with Bax Stable of Campbellville and Goin To The Show Stable of Peterborough, ON. The partners offered up $14,000 for the Muscle Mass daughter at last year's London Selected Yearling Sale.
"She raced good the other night in Grand River (July 24), she come through the middle there and got second, so that was good."
Regular reinsman Stephen Byron will steer Zebs Flur on Saturday, where she faces a tough field that includes division co-leader Canadian Titan from Post 3 and former Grassroots winner Highland Foxytrotr from Post 7. Like Zebs Flur, Highland Foxytrotr stepped up to the Gold Series for her second start and finished third behind the undefeated Warrawee Vicky.
"I'm glad she drew the rail in Hiawatha," said Allensen, who will miss the filly's start at his local oval due to a prior commitment. "I think she's one that's just going to maybe surprise you if she gets the right trip and gets away good. She's got some step at the end."
In addition to Zebs Flur, trainer John Bax will also send out Golden Gavel from Post 10 in the first division, Up And Trending from Post 6 in the fourth split and Need An Alibi from Post 4 in the last division.
The two-year-old trotting fillies kick off Hiawatha Horse Park's Saturday evening program at 6:30 pm and will also showcase their skills in Races 2, 4, 7, and 8. Complete entries are available at https://standardbredcanada.ca/racing/entries/data/e0810sarfn.dat.
From the Ontario Sire Stakes