DUNDAS, ON — Delcrest Luckygirl opened the afternoon’s festivities at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday with an impressive 1:58.2 mile that would go unmatched through the remainder of the three-year-old trotting filly Grassroots divisions.
Leaving from Post 2 the Mr Lavec daughter and driver Mario Baillargeon went straight to the front and rolled through evenly rated fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28.4 on their way to the one and a half length triumph. Keystone Alberta pressured the pace through the later stages of the mile and held on to be second, while Marclif Aisalinda finished nine lengths back in third.
The win vaulted Delcrest Luckygirl into second place in the Grassroots point standings, assuring her of a return trip to Flamboro Downs for the Sept. 29 Grassroots Semifinals. Darren James McCall trains the filly, a two-time winner in Grassroots action, for Stake Your Claim Stable of Secaucus, NJ.
C H Meadow Miss joined Delcrest Luckygirl in a tie for second spot in the division race with a 1:58.4 mile in the sixth race. However, C H Meadow Miss and trainer-driver Nick Henry used come from behind tactics to post their second win on the provincial circuit.
The CR Renegade daughter sat sixth through most of the mile before circling three-wide at the three-quarters and sprinting home to the one and one-quarter length triumph over pacesetter Lisas Mission. Geisha Hall rounded out the top three in the fourth Grassroots division.
Mount Forest resident Henry shares ownership on C H Meadow Miss with fellow breeder Ron Corbett of St. Jacobs. Through 10 starts this season the filly boasts a record of four wins and two seconds for earnings of $34,900.
With their 125 points, Delcrest Luckygirl and C H Meadow Miss sit 25 points behind division leader Rumours, who cruised to her third Grassroots win in the eighth race. Driver John Kovacs adopted Henry’s off the pace tactics, sitting fifth and then moving three-wide at the three-quarters to begin a successful drive to the wire.
Rumours stopped the clock at 2:00.4 to best pacesetter Enlighten Me by three-quarters of a length. Self Starter, owned by Halben Farm of Campbellville, finished one and a half lengths back in third.
Trained by William Elliott for Kirk Farfaras of London, Angus Hall daughter Rumours now sports a record of four wins and one third in 13 starts.
Taylorlane Crush wrapped up the Grassroots program with an impressive victory in Race 11. The Berndt Hanover daughter dominated the field from start to finish, cruising under the wire in a personal best 1:58.4. Lukes Danielle and Renegade Ruby rounded out the top three.
Paul Mackenzie piloted Taylorlane Crush to her first Grassroots victory for trainer James Ruhl of Tara and his partner Murray Ritchie of Owen Sound. With 62 points earned in her two Grassroots appearances, the filly is 21 points short of the current cut off for a post season berth and will be looking for a strong effort in the last Grassroots event on Sept. 7 at Hiawatha Horse Park.
The other Grassroots divisions at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday went to Holyrood in 1:59, Wannagotomctuckeys in 2:00.3, Strikinresemblance in 1:59.3 and Oaklea Opal in 2:00.4.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Flamboro Downs Thursday afternoon when the two-year-old pacing colts bring their Grassroots show to the Dundas half-mile.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rflmdwe.html