SARNIA, ON — Driver Bruce Richardson and trainer Susanne Kerwood partnered for a pair of Trillium Series wins at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday evening.

Kerwood harnessed Emerald Whisper in the eighth race and BJs Fancy in the eleventh race and Richardson engineered one-length victories for both, marking the second time this season he has recorded the driving double with this pair of three-year-old trotting fillies. On June 9 the Arthur resident guided Emerald Whisper and BJs Fancy to wins in the Grassroots season opener at Hanover Raceway.

On Thursday, Richardson eased Emerald Whisper off the starting gate from Post 2 and tucked her in behind fan favourite J M Aggie, who led the field through a :28.3 opening quarter, a :59.4 half and a 1:30.1 three-quarters. Turning for home Richardson sent Emerald Whisper after the lead and the filly responded with an impressive finishing kick that propelled her to the 1:58.4 victory.

J M Aggie stayed game for second, while U Can Cruise earned the third-place finisher’s share with a gritty trip around the outside.

Kerwood trains Emerald Whisper for Emerald Ridge Farm of Rockwood and Devos Stables and Mary Devos of Langton. Through 12 starts this season the Earl daughter has posted six wins, two seconds and one third. After three victories at the Grassroots level through June and July, Kerwood moved the filly up to the Gold Series, where she finished second in her elimination and sixth in the final.

Starting from Post 1 with BJs Fancy, Richardson was looking to replicate the pocket trip he crafted for Emerald Whisper, but found himself on the front end when pacesetter Pondo Holly made a break at the half. As a result, BJs Fancy cruised along on the lead without facing a challenge, and then dug in through the stretch to hold off Featured Image and H S Gingersnap.

Richardson shares ownership on the Angus Hall daughter with Joseph Coffey of Orangeville and Gordon Smellie of Arthur. Through 10 starts this season the filly boasts a record of four wins, three seconds and one third.

The fastest mile of the four $17,998 Trillium divisions was posted by American-bred filly Moment Of Zen, who stopped the Hiawatha teletimer at 1:57.2 in the tenth race.

With Larry Small in the race bike, Moment Of Zen delivered a gutsy effort up the outside to overcome the leaders and claim a head victory. Jtlady Strong and Trot Your Sox Off followed Moment Of Zen’s lead up the outside and collared fan favourite Just Dandy in the stretch to finish second and third.

Jim Demetrious trains Moment Of Zen for Andrew Demetrious of Campbellville. The win marked the Dream Vacation filly’s third trip to the winner’s circle in 12 sophomore starts and bumped her earnings over the $53,000 mark.

The remaining Trillium division was captured by Ontario Sires Stakes leading trainer Wayne Henry and Tymal Timeout, who cruised home one length winners in 1:58.3 over Summer Audit and Paris Oaks.

Henry fired the filly boldly off the wings from the outside Post 8 and led the field by as much as five lengths during the race. A Gold Elimination winner this season, and a Gold Final winner at two, Tymal Timeout has recorded three wins and two seconds in 10 sophomore starts to propel her lifetime earnings to $301,392. The Henry Stable of Arthur and Daniel McCann of Parkhill share ownership on the talented daughter of Royal Strength and Lukes Elvira.

The three-year-old trotting fillies have one Trillium Series event remaining on their schedule, Nov. 3 at Western Fair Raceway. The Ontario-sired fillies will return to Grassroots action on Sept. 15 at Woodstock Raceway and Gold Series action on Sept. 24 at Mohawk Racetrack.

Hiawatha Horse Park resumes its Ontario Sires Stakes schedule on Saturday, Sept. 8 with Grassroots divisions for the exciting two-year-old pacing colts.

For complete results please go to:

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