ELMIRA, ON — Dave Wall and John Bax teamed up for a pair of wins in Grassroots action at Elmira Raceway on Friday evening. “Mr. OSS” and Canada’s 2001 Trainer of the Year posed in the winner’s circle after Races 2 and 9 with two-year-old trotting fillies Vics Flag and R Heavenly Hush.
Vics Flag posted an upset in the second race with a 2:07.4 score over favourite Chips Chip and McClassy. Wall settled the Balanced Image filly in second from Post 4 and stalked pacesetter Powerline Crystal through fractions of :32.2, 1:05.3 and 1:37 before taking control through the final turn. In the sprint to the wire Chips Chip could not catch Vics Flag, who chalked up her first victory in six starts.
Breeders Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband of Toronto and Al Libfeld of Pickering own Vics Flag, who jumped into the last spot in the top 16 with the win. After taking a run at the Gold Series fillies in her first provincial start, Vics Flag logged a fifth-place finish in the Sept. 1 Grassroots at Clinton Raceway and currently boasts a total of 55 points.
Wall and Bax put the cap on Elmira Raceway’s 2002 Ontario Sires Stakes season with a win in the final Grassroots division of the night. Wall employed an identical strategy to steer favourite R Heavenly Hush to a five length 2:10.4 triumph over Shawland Y Two K and St Lads Abby.
It was the first win for R Heavenly Hush, who had logged steady second, third and fifth-place performances in her first three Grassroots outings, and boosted her into seventh spot in the Grassroots post season race. Al Libfeld bred and owns the daughter of Balanced Image and R Sweet Hush, who pushed her earnings to $15,951 with the win.
Wayne Henry piloted Taffeta Seelster to her second Grassroots win in the seventh race, fighting off a late challenge from Lukes Vivianne to hit the wire on top by a neck in 2:08.1. The Henry Stable of Arthur and James Massey of St. Marys own the talented young trotter, who boasts a record of two wins, two seconds and one third in eight starts.
With two wins and one runner-up finish on her Grassroots resume Taffeta Seelster moved into a two-way tie for fourth spot in the division standings with a total of 125 points.
The freshman trotting fillies have just one opportunity remaining to garner points toward the Nov. 2 Grassroots Semifinal at Georgian Downs and division leader Designable had her spot on the gate locked up before she scored her third win in Elmira’s first race Friday night. The Earl daughter and trainer-driver Wayne Langille led from gate-to-wire, fending off a challenge from Petals Of A Flower at the three-quarter mark, and stopped the clock at 2:10, two lengths ahead of Odee Angelina and Ljanearl.
Harley resident Langille shares ownership on Designable with James Barton of Branchton, Jeff Adamson of Brantford and Terence Adamson of Harley. The win extended the filly’s current streak to three and boosted her earnings to $37,731.
Shaboomie captured the other division with an impressive wire-to-wire effort, hitting the wire four lengths up on Sarahs Crown and Armbro Acunar in 2:07.4. Phyllis McNinch of Puslinch and Wendy Perkes and Barry McNinch of Rockwood own the New Victory daughter who is trained by Jim Haddon and was driven to the win by veteran Bill Gale.
The two-year-old trotting fillies make their final Grassroots start at Sudbury Downs on Oct. 11 before progressing to the post season at Georgian Downs. Their Friday evening demonstration wrapped up Elmira Raceway’s 2002 Ontario Sires Stakes season, which featured eight outstanding events. The program will be back at the Waterloo County oval for the final time next season before the racetrack transforms into the Grand River Raceway at its new location just outside Elora.