DRESDEN, ON — Marclif Victoria breezed to the fastest victory of five Grassroots divisions at Dresden Raceway on Sunday afternoon. The two-year-old trotting filly and veteran Ontario Sires Stakes reinsman Dave Wall controlled the pace throughout Race 12 to post the 2:04 victory.
Leaving from Post 1, Wall sent Marclif Victoria to the front of the six horse field and rolled effortlessly through fractions of :30.1, 1:02 and 1:33.2 before sprinting down the stretch to the four and a half length triumph over Softys Caitlyn and Boothill Looker. The win was Marclif Victoria’s first of the season and, combined with her third-place result in the season opening Grassroots event, gives her a total of 112 points in the race toward a berth in the post season.
Franklin MacDonald of Clinton trains the Brylin Boyz filly for his partner Clifton Walsh of Wingham. The long time partners also bred the filly, who has earned $12,380 in just two starts.
Warrawee Fergie opened the afternoon of Ontario Sires Stakes action with a 2:05 victory in the first division. The Angus Hall daughter and trainer Carl Jamieson also used front end tactics from Post 4 and were able to hold off a fast closing E B Josie down the lane. Compania Royal rounded out the top three in the first division.
Princeton resident Jamieson trains Warrawee Fergie, who was a fourth-place finisher in the Gold Series Eliminations at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 13, for William Knights of Blenheim and Break N Run Racing Stable of Ohsweken.
Also stepping off a 2:05 mile on the front end was Sultry Night in the eighth race. Trained and driven by Roy Jeffries for Millar Farms of Newmarket, the Mr Lavec daughter waltzed across the finish line nine and three-quarter lengths ahead of Yawantakissgoodbye and Indys Kylee. Like Warrawee Fergie, Sultry Night made her provincial debut at Rideau Carleton, where she finished fifth in a Trillium event on July 4 and fourth in the fastest Gold Eimination on July 13.
Front end speed was definitely favoured at Dresden on Sunday afternoon as the winners of the other two Grassroots divisions also led from gate to wire. Hetties Charm captured the sixth race in 2:07 for driver Paul Walker and trainer John Rier of Kitchener and his partner Randy Rier of Hanover. Marie Seelster and Squeezethosecheeks captured the second and third place shares of the $20,187 purse, while favourite Trendy Girl made a break at the three-quarter pole that left her 11 lengths back at the wire.
Raintree Jen delivered a victory in the other division, fighting off a challenge from Trotters R Us around the final turn and trotting home to the 2:06.4 victory. Trotters R Us stayed game for second while favourite The Price Is Right had to settle for third.
David Wilkinson of Goderich bred, owns and trains Meadowbranch Mike daughter Raintree Jen, who posted her first win in three tries.
The two-year-old trotting fillies return to Grassroots action on Aug. 23 at Hanover Raceway. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement is back at Dresden Raceway next weekend when the popular half-mile hosts the two-year-old trotting colts as part of its Civic Holiday Monday program.