DRESDEN, ON — Dream Alone posted the quickest of seven Grassroots divisions on Dresden Raceway’s Fan Appreciation program Monday afternoon.
The three-year-old trotting filly and trainer-driver Mark Steacy left smartly from Post 2 in the final Grassroots event and controlled the pace through fractions of :30.2, 1:03.1 and 1:33.1. After turning back a challenge from last season’s Grassroots champion Designable at the three-quarter pole Dream Alone sailed home to a six length victory in 2:03.4 over a sloppy track rated three second slower than normal.
Frock N Wave landed in second spot, while Designable settled for third. David Reid of Kingston, Stan Klemencic of Trenton, Peter Heffering of Port Perry and George Judson of Athens share ownership on Dream Alone, whose victory boosted her into fourth spot in the Grassroots division standings. Through three Grassroots starts the Mr Lavec daughter has two wins and one fourth for 108 points.
Consistent competitor Sephora moved into the top spot in the division standings with a 2:04.4 score in the tenth race. The King Conch daughter and trainer-driver Jason Gilchrist also used front-end tactics to earn the eight and a half length victory over Willow Royal and So I Lied.
Dr. Frederick Albert of Prescott bred and owns Sephora, whose two wins and two seconds in Grassroots action have earned her 150 points and a 13 point lead in the race for a Grassroots Semifinal berth.
King Conch daughter Armbro Amaze captured her fourth straight victory with a come-from-behind effort in Race 12. With regular reinsman Ross Battin in the bike, the filly stalked pacesetter Ms Rodriguez through fractions of :30.2, 1:03 and 1:34.2 before cruising by in the stretch to the 2:05 victory. Ms Rodriguez settled for second and Shebeasabrefan picked up the third-place finisher’s share of the $18,000 purse.
Trainer Frank O’Reilly of Orton, John Fielding of Toronto and John Jesson of Tillsonburg share ownership on Armbro Amaze, whose win streak started with the Dream Of Glory Trot Final at Hanover Raceway on Aug. 2.
Father and son duo Ross and Wayne Henry teamed up for a pair of wins over the soggy Dresden oval, making their way to the winner’s circle with Independent Woman after Race 6 and Taffeta Seelster after Race 14.
Former Gold Series regular Independent Woman posted an effortless six length, wire-to-wire victory in 2:06.3, while Taffeta Seelster had to hustle home to earn her 2:06.2 clocking. The Henry Stable of Arthur owns Independent Woman and shares ownership on Taffeta Seelster with James Massey of St. Marys.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Vics Flag in 2:07.3 and Mikestory in 2:05. The three-year-old trotting fillies will lock horns in Grassroots action for the fifth time this season at Georgian Downs on Sept. 27.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Dresden Raceway for the last time this year on Sunday, Sept. 28, when the lightning fast three-year-old pacing colts highlight a program that will also feature memorial races for Tom Joy, Bob Chapple and Jamie Snelgrove.