INNISFIL, ON — Stephen Byron piloted three-year-old trotting filly Celsius Hanover to her first Grassroots win of the season at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening.

The Thornton resident took full advantage of Post 2, firing Celsius Hanover to the front of the eight filly field and carving out fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:29.3 on their way to a 2:00 victory. Sears Tower and Suzies On A Roll earned second and third-place honours in the $15,000 skirmish, one and one quarter lengths behind the winner.

Byron shares ownership on Celsius Hanover with William Bryden of Orangeville and Glengate Farms of Campbellville. Tuesday’s win was the Balanced Image daughter’s first in seven starts this season and vaulted her into a two-way tie for eighth place in the Grassroots division standings with just two regular season events remaining.

Six races later Strikinresemblance clocked the fastest mile of the night with a 1:58.2 performance in rein to Jim McClure. The Striking Sahbra daughter sat on the rail in fourth until the stretch when she sprinted by the pacesetters to claim the half length victory over fan favourite C H Meadow Miss and Taylorlane Crush.

Hepworth resident Wendell Waples trains the talented young trotter for his partners Sally, Jack and Dale Waples of Hepworth. Tuesday’s triumph was the filly’s fourth through eight starts this season, and her first in Grassroots action. Combined with the 12 points she earned from finishing third in the June 10 event at Sudbury Downs, Strikinresemblance has a total of 62 points and sits just shy of the current cut off for the top 16.

McClure captured a Grassroots driving double at Georgian Downs on Tuesday, also appearing in the winner’s circle after Race 7 with Womanly Image.

The veteran reinsman used similar off the pace tactics to earn Womanly Image her second straight Grassroots trophy. Trained by John Kopas for George Hempt of Camp Hill, PA, Womanly Image started her sophomore campaign off at the Gold Series level before dropping down to the Grassroots in time for the June 28 event at Western Fair Raceway. With 100 Grassroots points Womanly Image sits in a four-way tie for fourth in the division standings.

Hastendownthewind and fan favourite Patsys Point finished second and third in the 1:59.3 mile.

Snapism and Rumours also claimed their second Grassroots victories at Georgian Downs, moving them into fourth alongside Womanly Image.

Snapism posted a 2:00.2 victory over In For A Treat and Renegade Ruby in the fourth race. Michael Whelan piloted the K M Lazer daughter to the win for trainer Michel Rivest and owners Kathlyn MacDonald of Paris and Gary Silliphant of Simcoe.

In Race 9 Rumours cruised to a five and three-quarter length victory for trainer William Elliott and owner Kirk Farfaras of London. The Angus Hall miss and John Kovacs took control of the race heading for the three-quarter pole and were never challenged on their way to the 2:00 victory.

Fancy N Diamonds and Natashas San rounded out the top three.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Highnmighty in 2:01.1, Strikingly Luvable in 2:01, Vijay Star in 1:58.4 and Orillia Seelster in 2:00.

The three-year-old trotting fillies resume their Grassroots rivalry at Flamboro Downs on Aug. 30, while the three-year-old trotting colts arrive at Georgian Downs on Saturday, Aug. 26 for their fourth Gold Series event.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgeodftu.html