BELLEVILLE, ON — Local filly Incredible Mother came up with a big effort to capture her first Grassroots victory of the season at Quinte Exhibition Raceway on Monday afternoon.
In rein to trainer Mark Steacy, the three-year-old trotting filly fired out of Post 2 and sprinted to the quarter in :30.1, seven lengths ahead of her competition. Through fractions of 1:01.1 and 1:32.2 Incredible Mother’s lead diminished, but the Incredible Abe daughter stayed game down the stretch, fighting off Marclif Victoria to score the head victory in 2:03.1. Third-place finisher Very Violet and the remainder of the field were well behind the leaders after struggling with breaks throughout the mile.
Lansdowne resident Steacy shares ownership on Incredible Mother with David Reid of Glenburnie, Donald Cox, Jr. of Lansdowne and Stan Klemencic of Trenton. The win was the filly’s second of the season and improved her record to two wins, three seconds and one third through 12 starts for earnings of $30,272.
Division leader Sno Doubt About It captured her fourth of five Grassroots starts in the first division, trotting to a 2:03 victory over Hetties Charm and Creme Caramel. The Balanced Image daughter was driven to the win by Ray McLean, Jr. for trainer Wayne Bloomfield and owner Karen Carroll of Shedden.
The win was the first of three on the Grassroots program for McLean. The young reinsman was back in the Quinte winner’s circle after the second division with Tenacious Dream, who sports a perfect Grassroots record after three starts.
McLean and the Fill V daughter opted for a front-end trip around the Belleville half-mile on Monday, stopping the clock at 2:03.3 and finishing two and one-quarter lengths ahead of Cassatt and Lexus Lulu. Port Elgin resident McLean shares ownership on Tenacious Dream with Tony Aarts of Putnam and Scott Barr handles training duties on the winner of $41,239.
The driver wrapped up his hat trick in Race 7 with a 2:03.3 score aboard Billabong. The win was the Mr Lavec daughter’s first and will move her into contention for a berth in the Grassroots Semifinal round Oct. 23 at Georgian Downs. John Burns of Mississauga trains Billabong for his partners Peter Berry of Toronto, Peter Leung of North York and Patrick Huber of Lima, OH.
Crimmings and Carla rounded out the top three in the $15,957 contest.
The other Grassroots divisions went to P C Dreams in 2:04.2 and Elouera in 2:03.1.
While the three-year-old trotting fillies wrapped up Quinte Exhibition Raceway’s 2004 Ontario Sires Stakes season, they have one last opportunity to earn points toward a post season berth when they compete on Oct. 16 at Georgian Downs.
The Ontario Sires Stakes program will return to Quinte Raceway in 2005 with a fresh group of two and three-year-old trotters and pacers keen to test their mettle on the provincial circuit.