GLOUCESTER, ON — Heading into Thursday’s Grassroots event at Rideau Carleton Raceway, Hi Edith and Don Wan Misy were tied for second in the three-year-old trotting filly point race.
The pair met up in the fourth Grassroots division and Hi Edith delivered a game come from behind performance to edge pacesetter Don Wan Misy by a head and claim sole ownership of second spot in the standings. The Earl daughter and driver Doug Hie reeled in the fan favourite just steps from the wire to claim the 2:00.3 victory, their fifth in nine outings this season.
Trainer Roger Hie of Cobourg and Hielite Acres Inc. of Fraserville bred and own Hi Edith, who bumped her lifetime earnings to $38,798 with the win. Rainy Day Maple rounded out the top three in the $20,945 contest, hitting the wire two and three-quarter lengths behind the leaders.
While Hi Edith wrote her name into the second spot in the sophomore trotting filly division standings, Emerald Whisper took a commanding lead at the top with her third straight Grassroots victory.
In spite of being handicapped by the outside Post 8, Emerald Whisper and driver Bruce Richardson took command of the race before the halfway marker, and never looked back, sailing home two and a half length winners in a personal best 2:01. Awesome Edna benefited from the pocket trip to finish second and Heads Up Play circled horses to claim third-place honours.
Susanne Kerwood trainee Emerald Whisper is now undefeated through her last five starts and has not finished worse than third in seven outings this season. Another daughter of Earl, Emerald Whisper is owned by Emerald Ridge Farm of Rockwood, Devos Stables and Mary Devos of Langton.
Richardson and Kerwood were nosed out of a second Grassroots trophy in the eighth race when Hall of Fame horseman Dave “Mr OSS” Wall and Trot Your Sox Off caught pacesetter BJs Fancy at the wire to claim a 2:00.1 victory.
The mile was a personal best for Trot Your Sox Off, who was a winner in the June 9 Grassroots season opener at Hanover Raceway, but made an unfortunate break in the second event on June 24 at Clinton Raceway and was placed back to seventh from fifth. Dr. Joan Gough trains the Wesgate Crown daughter for breeders Falconbrydge Farms of Mount Brydges. Through 11 starts the filly now boasts nine victories and earnings of $72,122.
In the other two divisions, trainer Wayne Henry guided CR Renegade daughter Windsong Darling to a 2:01 score over Jtladystrong and Guardian Star for his partners in the Henry Stable of Arthur, and trainer Peter Core recorded a 2:02.3 victory with Windsun Avec Moi.
The commanding victory marked the Mr Lavec daughter’s second trip to the winner’s circle for Sarnia resident Core and his partners Don Allensen of Camlachie and Raymond Core of Sarnia. Penetangore and One More Nerve were well back of Windsun Avec Moi in second and third.
The three-year-old trotting fillies will resume their Grassroots rivalry on Aug. 14 at Georgian Downs, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday, Aug. 3 with Gold Eliminations for the remarkable three-year-old pacing fillies.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rridcfth.html