INNISFIL, ON — BJs Fancy jumped up the three-year-old trotting filly division standings with a 1:57.4 victory at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening in the second of seven Grassroots contests.

With part-owner Bruce Richardson in the race bike, the heavy favourite powered to the front from Post 3 and sailed through fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:28 on her way to a commanding five length victory over Paris Oaks and Maples Image.

The victory ripped more than four seconds off the filly’s former personal best and earned her sole possession of second place in the race toward a berth in the Grassroots Semifinal. Through four Grassroots starts the Angus Hall daughter now has two wins, one second and one fourth for a total of 133 points.

Susanne Kerwood trains BJs Fancy for Arthur resident Richardson, Joseph Coffey of Orangeville and Gordon Smellie of Arthur.

One race later Kerwood trainee Maple Sugar picked up her third win of the season with a come from behind effort that saw the Malabar Maple daughter and driver Trevor Ritchie accelerate away from the field to a three and a half length triumph in 1:58.2. Marta Maple, another daughter of Malabar Maple, edged out Delcrestclassyhall for the second-place share of the $15,000 Grassroots purse.

Kerwood, who makes her home in Rockwood, shares ownership on Maple Sugar with Canamerica Capital Corp. of Milton and Enviro Stables Ltd. of Miami, FL. Maple Sugar started her sophomore campaign with a 1:56.3 victory in the Casual Breeze Stake at Mohawk Racetrack, finished second in the elimination and final of the season opening Gold Series at Georgian Downs, and won a Gold Elimination at Mohawk on July 6, but she struggled with breaks in each of her last two starts and was forced to re-qualify heading into Tuesday’s Grassroots outing.

Trevor Ritchie was also on his game on Tuesday, scoring a second Grassroots victory with John Drennan trainee Banquet Hall in the fifth race. The Acton resident guided Banquet Hall to the front from Post 5 and the Angus Hall miss cruised along to a 1:59.2 victory over Maple Missy and St Lads Diva.

Pace Mgmt Solutions Inc. of Mississauga own Banquet Hall, who also started her season at the Gold Series level. Tuesday’s win was the filly’s second straight. She was also a 2:03.3 winner at Flamboro Downs on Friday, Aug. 10.

Trot Your Sox Off and Malahide took advantage of the absence of Emerald Whisper from Tuesday’s competition to post convincing victories and join her at the top of the division standings with 150 points.

Malahide and trainer-driver Wayne Henry were five length winners in Race 8, stopping the clock in a personal best 1:59.2. The Henry Stable of Arthur owns Malahide, who bested Dellridge Kimberly and Paytheconsequences to record the victory.

One race later Trot Your Sox Off and Dave “Mr. OSS” Wall delivered a come from behind effort in 1:59.2 to hit the wire one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Featured Image and Demi Cafe. Dr. Joan Gough trains the Wesgate Crown daughter for Falconbrydge Farms of Mount Brydges.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Betty Rose in 1:58.4 and Dynamic Lavec in 1:58.4.

The three-year-old trotting fillies make their fifth Grassroots start at Woodstock Raceway on Sept. 15, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Georgian Downs next Tuesday, Aug. 21 with the third Grassroots event for the two-year-old trotting colts.

For complete results please go to:

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