Five Grassroots divisions contested at Western Fair

Freshman pacing filly Stonebridge Breeze cruised to an effortless victory in the last of five Grassroots divisions at Western Fair Raceway on Friday evening. In rein to Doug McNair, the Camluck miss accelerated away from Post 1 and commanded the race from start to finish, reaching the wire one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Kesons Avaia and Quality Goods in 1:58.4.

The win was the third this season in Grassroots action for Stonebridge Breeze, who will advance in to the Oct. 17 Grassroots Semifinal round with a total of 150 points, tied for second spot in the division standings with two other fillies. Gregg McNair trains the talented youngster for breeder Angie Stiller of Arva and Artana Stables of St. Thomas.

Grin A Peg delivered an impressive 14 length victory in the third $20,000 division to earn her second Grassroots trophy and secure a berth in the post season. The Mantacular daughter and driver Eddie Green got away second from Post 2 and watched fan favourite Hello Grin roll through opening fractions of :28.1 and :58.2. When the pacesetter made an unfortunate break heading for the 1:27.4 three-quarters, Green found himself on the front end with the fans’ third choice and he took full advantage of the unexpected opportunity.

On top by three and a half lengths at the three-quarter mark, Grin A Peg’s snappy :28.4 final quarter propelled her to the 1:56.3 victory, 14 lengths ahead of Splashedbycourage and Inside Dish.

Princeton resident Carl Jamieson trains Grin A Peg for Keith Earle of Winnipeg and Donald Ransom of Boissevain, MB. Friday’s win vaulted the youngster from twenty-first in the division standings into a tie for eighth and extends her season through the Oct. 17 Semifinals.

Driver Brad Forward padded his already considerable lead in the Ontario Sires Stakes driver’s point race with a pair of victories on Friday. The reinsman opened the evening with a gate to wire score with fan favourite Joint Effort, on behalf of trainer Richard Griffiths and owner-breeder Robert Hamather of Exeter.

The Modern Art filly halted the Western Fair teletimer at 1:58.4 and hit the wire one length up on Daylon Highlander, who is owned by Dave Lemon of Komoka, and three lengths ahead of Front Cover. The win boosted Joint Effort’s Grassroots record to two wins and two seconds in three starts for a total of 150 points, tied for second in the standings with Stonebridge Breeze.

In the second division Forward engineered a come from behind victory for Star Of Show, who had to circle three-wide at the three-quarter pole to earn her 1:57.4 victory. Pacesetter Bed Shy finished a half length back in second and Mystical Seelster was another five lengths back in third.

Bred and owned by Peter and David Heffering of Port Perry, Star Of Show wrapped up her regular season with two wins and one second in Grassroots action for 125 points and a share of fifth spot. The Astreos daughter was also a winner at trainer Mark Steacy’s hometown track, Rideau Carleton Raceway, on Sept. 7.

Star Of Show shares fifth spot in the standings with Orally Yours, who hung on for a nose victory in Race 10. The Cammibest daughter and driver Robert Shepherd clocked fractions of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:28.1 and still had enough in the tank to hold off fan favourite Mufasas Place to score the 1:57.3 victory. Zegerid Lady rounded out the top three.

Jean Guy Belliveau trains Orally Yours for breeder Dr. Hugh Baird of Hampton, NB. In 10 starts this season the filly has earned four wins, one second and one third for earnings of $37,500.

The top 16 point earners will reassemble at Flamboro Downs on Friday, Oct. 17 for a pair of Grassroots Semifinals. The top four finishers from each Semifinal will then earn a spot on the gate in the Oct. 24 Grassroots Championship at Flamboro.

Western Fair Raceway will host its next Ontario Sires Stakes event on Friday, Oct. 31, when the two-year-old pacing colts and fillies come trick-or-treating for Gold Elimination goodies. (OSS)

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