HANOVER, ON — Although the evening air was cool at Hanover Raceway on Saturday, the on-track action was hot as the three-year-old trotting fillies kicked off their Grassroots season.
Seven divisions of fillies went postward on Hanover’s Saturday evening program and Psyche Unseen delivered the sharpest mile, hitting the wire three lengths ahead of her peers in 2:00.3. Fiona Kemp set the tempo through the early stages of the race, but Psyche Unseen swept up the outside at the three-quarter pole to secure the victory over Rainy Day Maple and Paradox Image.
Jim McClure piloted the Striking Sahbra daughter to her first lifetime victory for trainer Doug McIntosh of Wheatley and his partners Seth Langson of Charlotte, NC and Randon Bros. Stable, Livonia, MI.
Hanover regulars Bruce Richardson and Trevor Henry each picked up a pair of Grassroots wins on Saturday, with Henry opening the evening with a 2:01.3 victory aboard Don Wan Misy. The duo sprinted by pacesetter Brontewine around the final turn and accelerated away to a seven length victory. Brontewine finished second, while Manvers Maple was five more lengths back in third.
Norman Campbell of Thamesford bred, owns and trains Don Wan Misy, who now sports one win and one second in two starts this season.
Henry was back in the Hanover winner’s circle following the sixth race, which saw him guide Trot Your Sox Off to a 2:02 triumph over Summer Audit, who is owned by Gresta Limited of Hanover, and Georgia Hall.
Trot Your Sox Off led the field of eight from start to finish, hitting the wire one and a quarter lengths on top. Dr. Joan Gough trains Trot Your Sox Off for Falconbrydge Farms of Mount Brydges. The Wesgate Crown daughter is now flawless through her last seven starts, with only one off the board finish in eight sophomore outings.
Bruce Richardson scored the first half of his driving double with Susanne Kerwood trainee Emerald Whisper in the eight race. Coming from the outside Post 7, Emerald Whisper steadily gained ground on the leaders before taking control around the final turn and powering down the stretch to a four length win in 2:02.2.
Penetangore, owned by Kenneth Wiese and trainer Kristina Anderson of Paisley, finished second and Tymal Francesca, owned by Henry Stable of Arthur, James Laverty of Sauble Beach and Ron Waples of Guelph, finished third.
The Earl daughter is owned by Emerald Ridge Farm of Rockwood and Devos Stables and Mary Devos of Langton and she now sports three wins through five starts this season.
Richardson wrapped up the evening’s excitement with a nailbiting finish aboard B Js Fancy. The pair nosed out favourites Powerline Mesa and Paris Oaks to record the 2:02.1 victory, their second of the season.
Arthur resident Richardson trains and shares ownership on B Js Fancy with Joseph Coffey of Orangeville and Gordon Smellie of Arthur.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Yorkys Girl in 2:01.2 and Malahide in 2:02.
The three-year-old trotting fillies return to Grassroots action on June 24 at Clinton Raceway, while Hanover Raceway fans can catch the three-year-old trotting colts on Wednesday, July 11.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rhnvrsa.html