INNISFIL, ON — The hot weather was not the only thing to come roaring into Ontario this week. On Tuesday night at Georgian Downs the two-year-old pacing fillies awed fans with their early season speed and raised the level of excitement for the Ontario Sires Stakes remaining on their schedule this summer.
The fillies got off to a lightning fast start in the first race when heavily favoured Did Dits and Greg Wright, Jr. stopped the teletimer at 1:55.4. The Pacific Fella daughter led the field of seven from start to finish, clocking fractions of :28, :59 and 1:26 en route to the impressive victory.
Marilyn Fromowitz of Richmond Hill bred and owns the gifted filly, who is trained by Hagersville’s Bill Robinson.
Runner-up Rhiannon O Rhye delivered a gutsy performance on the outside to stay within three and a half lengths of Did Dits, while third-place finisher Scotian Breeze was more than 12 lengths further back.
The second Trillium division went to favourite The Patriot, who was piloted to the 1:59 win by local reinsman Stephen Byron. Byron tucked The Patriot in behind pacesetter Armbro Amour and then stepped up the pace through the stretch to score the quarter length victory.
John Kopas trains the Albert Albert daughter for Glengate Farms of Campbellville and Suvretta Stables of Toronto. Armbro Amour held on for second while J M Kaydee finished six and one half lengths back in third.
Bill Robinson and Greg Wright, Jr. were back in the Georgian Downs winner’s circle after Race 7 with Town Jiffy. The Village Jiffy daughter held off a late charge from runner-up Warrawee Emma to score the 1:58.3 win for owner-breeder Linda Magid of Cambridge.
Missys Fame picked up the third-place finisher’s cheque in Race 7 for owner-trainer John Bosworth of Newmarket.
The freshman fillies will now split up into Grassroots and Gold Series divisions for their next start on Canada Day, July 1. The Grassroots fillies will head to Elmira Raceway and the Gold Series competitors will make their debut at Woodbine Racetrack. The American-bred fillies will rejoin their Ontario counterparts for a second Trillium event on July 13 at Woodstock Raceway.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Georgian Downs on Saturday, July 6 when the three-year-old pacing fillies head to Innisfil for their third Gold Series Eliminations. The $130,000 Final will go postward one week later on July 13.