SUDBURY, ON — Plumbing Princess recorded her third Grassroots victory with an impressive come from behind score at Sudbury Downs on Sunday afternoon.
The three-year-old pacing filly swept out three-wide at the three-quarters to take control of the race and then pulled away from the field to a two length victory in 1:57.2, the fastest of the four $26,179 Grassroots divisions. Monte Carlo Madam and She Goes All Davay rounded out the top three.
Brad Forward piloted Plumbing Princess to the win, her seventh through 12 starts this season. Guelph resident Duane Marfisi trains the Astreos daughter for owner-breeders Banjo Farms of Toronto and Alvin Stein of Ottawa.
Forward also captured the third Grassroots division with Leila Hanover, employing almost identical tactics to earn the filly her best result in four Grassroots starts and her third win of the season. The Rustler Hanover daughter stopped the clock at 1:57.4, seven lengths ahead of Infamous Dame and 11 lengths up on Smileifyoucam.
A Rustler Hanover half-sister to $1.45 million winner Timesareachanging and five others who have earned more than $100,000, Leila Hanover is owned by Gerrie Tucker of Montreal, QC and Ciro Gentile, Boca Raton, FL. Brett Robinson trains the winner of $29,866.
With only one regular season Grassroots event remaining, Vals Joanie made a leap up the point standings with an effortless 2:01 win in the first Grassroots division. The Presidential Ball miss and driver Paul Mackenzie led from start to finish, hitting the wire one length ahead of Donttellmewhattodo and The Shebaran.
Murray Brethour trains Vals Joanie for Grace and Lorne Brethour of Sunderland. The win boosted the filly’s point tally to 150 and puts her in a four-way tie for top spot in the point standings with Plumbing Princess, Prairie Tracker and St Lads Hailaroo.
The other Grassroots division was captured by Reg Gassien and Windsun Countess, who cruised to a one length victory over Mcmacattack and Galaxy Any Size in 2:00.
The win boosts Windsun Countess into the group of fillies hovering just below the current cut off for the top 16. Another successful outing in the last regular season event could propel the Northern Luck daughter to a berth in the Grassroots Semifinal.
Randy Fife trains the three-time winner for MMR Stables Inc., Janet Fife and Rodger Webb of Norwood.
The fillies will have one last shot to add to their Grassroots point total in the last regular season event on Sept. 2 at Hanover Raceway. Sudbury Downs will wrap up its 2006 Ontario Sires Stakes season on Saturday, Aug. 19 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old pacing colts.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rsudbysu.html