SEPT. 15, 2016 – There were few surprises at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening as the harness racing two-year-old trotters and pacers kicked off the Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots post season.
Favourites won five of the eight Semi-finals and only one division point leader, two-year-old trotting filly Inner Drive, failed to advance through to the Sept. 24 Grassroots Championships. Trotting filly Anikadabra set the tone for the evening in the first $20,000 Semi-final, cruising around the Campbellville oval to an effortless three and one-quarter length score in 1:57.1. You Cant Afford Me, Stritch, Man Shes Hot and Oh Miss Sophie finished second through fifth, also advancing to the Championship.
"She is exceptional," said driver Rick Zeron of the heavy favourite. "Rob (Fellows) doesn't want to hurt her this year so he opted to race her in the Grassroots instead of the Golds, and she just hovers over them, she's just that much the best."
Rockwood, ON resident Fellows conditions Anikadabra for owner-breeders Edward Wilson of Seagrave, ON and Michael Pozefsky of Saratoga Springs, NY. Since her July 10 debut the daughter of Kadabra and Anikawiesahalee has posted four wins, one third and one fourth in six starts, banking $46,840.
"She was a June foal, so we were pretty slow in developing her, and now she's got some experience we're really looking forward to next year," said Wilson. "Hopefully she will be a Gold filly next year. She's a half-sister to Resolve, so she's got some breeding there."
The filly's half-brother Resolve, a winner of $1.4 million in his racing career to date, will compete in the $632,000 Maple Leaf Trot Final at Mohawk on Saturday evening and is among the favourites after winning his Sept. 10 elimination.
Anikadabra
Oakville, ON resident Zeron was back in the winner's circle following the second race, guiding two-year-old pacing colt Bet On Brett to a neck victory in 1:54.2 over Kentucky Nick and division point leader Silverinyourpocket. Trident Seelster and Aston Hill Dave also advanced.
"He was wandering all over the track tonight, he wasn't paying attention to his work or his business or anything," said Zeron of the colt, who was sent off as the fans' top choice and led for most of the mile. "I had a bit of a hard time, struggled to get him across, but we got him there and hopefully we'll get some things changed up for next week."
Zeron steers the son of Sportswriter and Tug River Della for trainer Marcel Barrieau of Cambridge, ON and his partners Gestion Mastel Inc. of Longeuil, QC and Conrad Leber of Montreal, QC. In eight starts Bet On Brett, an $80,000 acquisition from the 2015 Harrisburg Yearling Sale, has delivered three wins and one second for earnings of $32,700.
Bet On Brett
The second pacing colt contest went to Tymal Peacemaker and driver Sylvain Filion, who also had a pair of victories in Semi-final action. Starting from Post 6 the fan favourites led from start to finish, hitting the wire one length ahead of The Dark Shadow in 1:53.1. Dreamfair B J, Thrownoutofbetter and Master The View rounded out the qualifiers.
"He's turned out to be a real nice horse," said Filion, who pilots the colt for trainer Stephane Larocque of Carlisle, ON and his father Yves Filion's Bayama Farms Inc. of Saint-Andre-D'Argenteuil, QC. "He's really, really good right now. You can do whatever you want, you can leave, you can race from behind; he makes my job a lot easier.
"He's reaching his peak right now, hopefully he stays healthy all week and I think he'll have a good shot in the Final," the Milton, ON resident added.
Since dropping down to the Grassroots from the Gold Series Tymal Peacemaker is undefeated, also winning at Mohawk on August 29 and Flamboro Downs on Sept. 8. The son of Mach Three and Flying Color was a $25,000 purchase at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale and has banked $42,000 in seven starts.
Tymal Peacemaker
Filion's second victory came with two-year-old pacing filly P L Kahluaa, who swept by the leaders in the final quarter to score a one-half length victory in 1:55. The division point leader and fan favourite bested Treasures Pearl, Village Jamie, White Dancer and Amulet Seelster.
Richard Moreau of Puslinch, ON trains P L Kahluaa for numbered company 9303 3868 Quebec Inc. of Blainville, QC. A modest $6,000 purchase from the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, the daughter of Sportswriter and B R Dot Cam has posted four wins, one second and one third in eight starts for earnings of $44,704.
P L Kahluaa
The second pacing filly battle was won by Dudesalady, who also used a late sprint to best fan favourite Anderson Seelster by one length in a personal best 1:53.4. P L Karis, The Joy Luck Club and Odysseus rounded out the top five.
Moffat, ON resident Jody Jamieson piloted Dudesalady to her fourth win in seven starts for trainer Susanne Kerwood of Rockwood, ON and owners M And L Of Delaware LLC of Wilmington, DE and Victoria Dickinson of Greenville, DE. The daughter of Shadow Play and Accountable was a $40,000 yearling purchase from the Forest City Sale and has banked $36,910 to date.
Dudesalady
The biggest upset of the evening came in the second trotting filly split as fan favourite Powerful Mission went off stride heading for the half and division point leader Inner Drive engaged in a speed duel with early leader Jilona and faded to seventh in the stretch. Benefitting from the front-end duel was Delcrest Magicstar, who followed Inner Drive and Late Shift up the outer lane and then circled out late to get the one-half length win in a personal best 1:58.1.
Late Shift settled for second, while Crystal Gumdrop, Tymal Declan and Kendras Coco were well back in third, fourth and fifth.
"A helmet for as long as I could is all I was looking for, and it worked out really good tonight," said driver James MacDonald. "She's got a big motor, she just, she doesn't pay attention. She needs a helmet and then she'll give you a good kick, and even then you're not out of the woods, she kind of looks around and goes to sleep."
The Guelph resident shares ownership of Delcrest Magicstar with trainer Johnathan McKinnon of Guelph and Peter Porter of Port Dover, ON. Through five starts the daughter of Majestic Son and Stars Balance has two wins and one second for earnings of $31,900 and MacDonald has high hopes for her future.
"She's got big talent, big talent. She's got all the tools, beautiful gait, big, strong filly, but she needs to learn to really want it. Her brother wanted it, so I think if she learns to be like him she could be a good horse, but time will tell," said MacDonald, referring to the filly's half-brother Delcrest Julian, a winner of $414,212.
Delcrest Magicstar
The two-year-old trotting colt Semi-finals went to Santini and division point leader Many A Man.
Santini and driver Richard Simard sprinted by pacesetter Themanofmydreams and favourite Head Turning Jag in the stretch, hitting the wire one-half length on top in a personal best 1:58.1. Themanofmydreams finished second, while Radical Road was promoted from fourth to third when Head Turning Jag made a late break in stride and was placed from third back to fourth. Critical Mass rounded out the top five.
Stephen Oldford conditions Santini for Oldford Racing LLC of Croswell, MI and Gene Oldford Farms LLC of St. Clair, MI. In six starts the son of Kadabra and Vallaire, a $40,000 purchase at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has three wins and one second for earnings of $41,600.
Santini
Many A Man and driver Randy Waples of Milton took command heading for the three-quarters in the second trotting colt contest and pulled away to a three and three-quarter length victory in 1:58.4. My Big Kadillac, Zorgwijk Rocket, Little Lion Man and LMC Mass Gem also moved on to the Championship.
Waples crafted the win for trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, ON and his fellow owner-breeders C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, ON. The son of Manofmanymissions and Armbro Sylvie improved his record to four wins in eight starts and earnings of $39,940.
Many A Man
Grassroots Semi-final action continues at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening, with eight $20,000 battles for the three-year-old pacers and trotters. The three-year-old trotting fillies kick things off in the first race at 7:30 pm.
Ontario Racing