SARNIA, ON — On Thursday evening at Hiawatha Horse Park, Twin B Diva delivered the kind of performance Jim Ainsworth has waited six weeks to see, cruising to an impressive 1:56 victory in the second of 10 Grassroots divisions.

Leaving from Post 5, Twin B Diva fired straight to the front of the field and effortlessly controlled the pace through fractions of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:26.2. In the stretch the Camluck miss held off a challenge from Chloes Silver Star to post the three-quarter length victory. Fan favourite On The Choo Choo was another length back in third.

Sarnia resident Ainsworth trains and drives Twin B Diva for his longtime partners Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga, the filly’s breeder Twinbrook Limited of Embro and William Boden of Vancouver, BC. The win marked the filly’s first visit to the winner’s circle through five starts and vaulted her up the Grassroots point standings into a two-way tie for ninth in the race for one of 16 spots in the season ending Semifinal.

Secret Grin came one step closer to locking up a spot in the lucrative post season with an outstanding 1:55.3 triumph in the second last $15,000 Grassroots division.

Starting from Post 1 for the third time in her brief four race career, Secret Grin and driver Terry Kerr were sitting fifth as Twin B Godiva hit the opening quarter in :27.2. Amyng For Gold took over heading for the :56.4 half, and Kerr inched Secret Grin up the outside to fourth. At the 1:26.1 three-quarters Amyng For Gold was still in command, and Kerr and Secret Grin had dropped back onto the rail in third.

As the fillies turned for home Amyng For Gold had a nose in front, but Secret Grin’s powerful finishing kick propelled her to a half length win that carved more than four seconds off her personal best. Amyng For Gold stayed game for second and Just Her Way survived a tough trip up the outside to earn third-place honours.

Sarnia resident Kerr was in the race bike for trainer Bruce MacDonald and owners Mardon Stables of Loretto. The Grinfromeartoear daughter now has three wins and one fifth under her belt in four starts and has accumulated 105 Grassroots points, good enough for sole ownership of fifth in the division race.

Former Gold Series competitor Spun Sugar scored a second straight Grassroots victory in the seventh race at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday. In rein to trainer Carl Jamieson, Spun Sugar fought her way to a half length victory over Hold That Thought and Lady Mach in 1:55.4.

Jamieson shares ownership of Spun Sugar with breeder Dr. Robert Boyce of London. The daughter of Camluck and Landfair Caveat is a full sister to $447,157 winner Cupcakesnwhipcream and $180,214 winner Caviarandsoftmusic, who were also trained by the Princeton resident through their successful Ontario Sires Stakes campaigns.

The two-year-old pacing fillies entertained Hiawatha fans throughout Thursday evening’s program and then brought them to their feet with a nail biting finish in the last Grassroots division.

Fan favourite Runaway Jade, Sammy Syd and Mystically were neck and neck down the stretch and just a nose apart at the 1:57.1 finish. After consulting the photograph, Hiawatha racing officials determined that Runaway Jade had claimed the victory, Sammy Syd was second and Mystically was third.

Marcel Barrieau trains Runaway Jade for Conrad Leber of Montreal, QC and Michael Whelan engineered Thursday’s triumph. The Mach Three miss was making her first start in the Grassroots program after three starts, including one win, at Hippodrome de Montreal.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Whitesand Scarlet in 1:56.4, Cunning Stunts in 1:56.4, Fysia in 1:56.4, Lil Motion in 1:57.2, Ja El Cash Advance in 1:57.2 and Real Beauty in 1:58.1.

The freshman pacing fillies make their second last Grassroots start on Aug. 27 at Clinton Raceway, while Hiawatha Horse Park hosts the last regular season event for the three-year-old trotting fillies on Thursday, Sept. 7.

For complete results please go to:

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