SARNIA, ON — Espirit Seelster established a two-race win streak and lowered her personal best by one and three-fifths seconds with an impressive 1:55 victory in Grassroots action at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday.
Fresh off a victory in Trillium Series action at Elmira Raceway on June 6, the Camluck filly and driver Mike Sumner moved confidently to the front from Post 1 and never faced a challenge, sailing home to a three and three-quarter length victory over Shami Cami and Twin B Scamper.
Trained by Ray Bunn for McCarthy Family Farms Ltd. of Granton, Espirit Seelster boosted her 2003 record to two wins and two seconds in four starts and $23,129 in earnings with the victory.
One race later Likeable Dough and last year’s leading driver in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, Don McElroy, copied Espirit Seelster’s racing tactics and equalled her time. Leaving from Post 3 McElroy moved Likeable Dough into the lead heading for the halfway marker and the duo fought down the stretch to the half length victory over Missys Fame in 1:55. Shes So Lucky was six lengths back in third.
The win was also a personal best for Likeable Dough, another daughter of Camluck, owned by Robert Wish of Manalapan, NJ and trained by Mark Harder. The win was the filly’s third in 13 starts this season and a significant improvement over her Grassroots debut at Dresden Raceway on May 19 where she made a break at the three-quarter pole and finished seventh.
Hot Shot Rocket was the only winner from the Dresden event who scored a repeat victory at Hiawatha. The Duane Marfisi trainee stalked pacesetter Rocket Envy throughout the mile and then blasted past her in the stretch to record a six and one half length triumph. Michael Langdon piloted the Pacific Rocket filly, owned by Peter Heffering of Port Perry, to the 1:56 victory. Rocket Envy held on for second, while Sheiladawnkillean rounded out the top three.
The win vaults Hot Shot Rocket to the top of the three-year-old pacing filly Grassroots standings with a total of 100 points. Hot on her heels are Espirit Seelster and O See My Bo with 75 points from one win and one second-place finish.
While O See My Bo could not repeat her winning effort from Dresden, the Bo Knows Jate filly gave it a good effort, finishing just half a length behind Chantilly Le Cie after carving out fractions of :27.4, :56.4, 1:25.4. Chantilly Le Cie and driver Dave Boughton sat patiently behind O See My Bo and then turned on the heat down the stretch to score the 1:55.1 win.
Keith Klages trains Chantilly Le Cie, who tried her hand at the Gold Series in May before conquering the Grassroots on Thursday evening. Homebred Ltd. of Oceanside, NY bred and owns the Village Jasper daughter, who also shaved a second off her personal best with the win.
Sterling Fame scored the biggest upset of the eight Grassroots divisions, surprising favourites Dearest Dorothy and Streetwise Hanover with a finishing kick that propelled her to a three-quarter length victory in 1:56.4. Michael Langdon drove the Apaches Fame filly, who was making just her fourth lifetime start, for trainer Jason Lickers and owners Break N Run Racing Stable of Ohsweken and Adrianne Lickers of Hagersville.
The other Grassroots division winners were Oaks Minnie Rocket in 1:56.2, Doctor Ruth in 1:55.2 and The Matrix in 1:56.2.
The sophomore fillies do not make their third Grassroots start until Aug. 2 at Kawartha Downs, while those eligible for the Trillium Series will make their way to Hanover Raceway on July 5. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday, July 3 with Grassroots action for the talented three-year-old trotting colts.