Trotting fillies wrap up OSS season at Elmira

Trotting fillies wrap up OSS season at Elmira

ELMIRA, OCT. 12, 2001 – Father and son duo Ross and Trevor Henry combined for two victories in Grass Roots action at Elmira Raceway on Friday evening.

The Henry’s appeared in the Elmira winner’s circle with Early Miss Molly in the first of five divisions and again with Ava Hall in the last division.

In Race 1 Trevor Henry settled Early Miss Molly on the rail in second as the starting gate pulled away from the field of seven. The Earl daughter tracked pacesetter Direct Dial through fractions of :30.2, 1:01.4 and 1:34 before powering to the lead in the stretch. The filly, bred and owned by James Massey of St. Marys, stopped the clock at 2:07 over a track rated one second slower than normal after a full day of rain.

Sent off as the favourite by Elmira fans, Early Miss Molly returned $5.20, $4.40 and $2.40 to her backers. Direct Dial held on for second and Freestall Fanny picked up the third-place finisher’s share of the $17,163 purse.

In the eighth race Trevor Henry fired Ava Hall off the wings to the front and led throughout the mile by as many as eight lengths. The Royal Strength filly, owned by numbered company 1035840 Ontario Inc. and Ross Henry of Arthur, hit the wire two and one half lengths ahead of Athens and Misshoudini in 2:08.

Both Ava Hall and Early Miss Molly will appear in the Grass Roots Semifinal on Oct.. 27 at Windsor Raceway. Early Miss Molly’s win on Friday propelled her to the to of the division standings with 23 points from one win, four seconds and a fourth, while Ava Hall finished in a tie for eighth spot with 14 points. Only the top 16 point earners advance to the post season.

Clemol scored the fastest win of the Grass Roots divisions when she stopped the Elmira teletimer at 2:05.4 in Race 5. The Earl filly and trainer-driver Daniel Martin led from gate-to-wire to score their third win in three Grass Roots starts. Martin, who makes his home in La Presentation, QC, owns the filly with partner Clement Morier of St-Jean-Baptiste, QC. The duo have banked $54,137 on their protege’s behalf this season.

Slabtown Boots finished three lengths back in second and Early Secret was another six lengths back in third.

The other two divisions went to Summertimedreams in 2:07.3 and Incredible Balance in 2:07.3.

The top 16 point earners in the freshman filly division now enjoy a break until their Semifinal round at Windsor Raceway on Oct.. 27. The top four finishers from each of two $20,000 Semifinals return to Windsor on Nov. 3 for the $100,000 Grass Roots Championship.

Friday’s event wraps up the Ontario Sires Stakes season at Elmira Raceway, which was highlighted by a new track record and nine outstanding provincial events. The top Sires Stakes program in North America will return to Elmira Raceway in 2002 when a new group of trotters and pacers will attempt to write their own page in the track’s history books.

RESULTS (Including Head No., Horse, (Sire), Driver/Trainer, Pay Outs, Race Fractions):

RACE 1 $17,163

6 – Early Miss Molly (Earl) T. Henry/R. Henry $5.20 $4.40 $2.40
4 – Direct Dial (Balanced Image) D. McElroy/R. McIntosh $2.90 $2.80
1 – Freestall Fanny (Cock Of The Walk) P. Walker/P. Walker $2.40

Lovely Star, owned by Smart Cat Stable, Elmira, finished seventh.

Exactor 6 – 4: $48.30
Triactor 6 – 4 – 1: $124.70
Race Fractions: :30.2, 1:01.4, 1:34 and 2:07

RACE 2 $16,863

6 – Summertimedreams (Earl) F. O’Reilly/F. O’Reilly $5.30 $3.90 $3.00
3 – Equine Grace (Earl) J. Gilchrist/J. Gilchrist $3.10 $2.50
5 – Briscos Star (Brisco Hanover) T. Henry/R. Henry $2.90

Exactor 6 – 3: $11.80
Triactor 6 – 3 – 5: $43.00

Race Fractions: :30.1, 1:04.2, 1:37.3 and 2:07.3

RACE 5 $17,163

3 – Clemol (Earl) D. Martin/D. Martin $4.90 $2.80 $2.10
5 – Slabtown Boots (Armbro Acadian) S. Byron/W. Bloomfield $3.20 $2.20
7 – Early Secret (Earl) P. Walker/P. Walker $2.20

Please Remember Me, owned by David and Marjorie Conrad, Listowel, finished fourth. Gamblon Eager, leased by Keith Gamble, Gerald Gamble and Berniece Gamble, Welland and Scott McEneny, Cambridge, finished seventh.

Exactor 3 – 5: $19.60
Triactor 3 – 5 – 7: $33.90

Race Fractions: :31.4, 1:03.4, 1:35 and 2:05.4

RACE 6 $17,163

1 – Incredible Balance (Incredible Abe) K. Hudon/J. Hudon $11.00 $4.20 $2.90
5 – Parkside Princess (Royal Strength) K. Hastie/K. Hastie $3.50 $4.50
6 – Zola Smiger (Seasoned Pleasure) D. Graham/G. Smith $4.40

Chorus Girl, owned by Trevor Henry, Arthur, finished sixth. Sheza Charm, owned by Smart Cat Stable, Elmira, finished seventh.

Exactor 1 – 5: $33.30
Triactor 1 – 5 – 6: $224.00

Race Fractions: :31.3, 1:03.1, 1:35 and 2:07.3

RACE 8 $17,163

3 – Ava Hall (Royal Strength) T. Henry/R. Henry $2.90 $2.20 $2.30
Owned by 1035840 Ontario Inc. and Ross Henry, Arthur.
2 – Athens (Balanced Image) J. Cecchin/J. Cecchin $3.40 $3.20
Leased by Kathy Cecchin, Fergus and Steve Stewart, Paris, KY.
6 – Misshoudini (Royal Ballad) W. Langille/W. Langille $4.10

Early Cat, owned by Smart Cat Stable, Elmira, finished seventh.

Exactor 3 – 2: $13.60
Triactor 3 – 2 – 6: $82.60

Race Fractions: :31.1, 1:04, 1:36.3 and 2:08