DUNDAS, ON — Mylittlerebel has been a model of consistency for her owners since making her racing debut late last fall, and on Friday night at Flamboro Downs the three-year-old pacing filly finally earned some recognition for her solid work ethic.
Starting from Post 5 in her $24,000 Grassroots division, Mylittlerebel got a classic second-over steer from catch driver Yannick Gingras and sprinted down the stretch to a 1:54.3 victory. After providing the wind break for Mylittlerebel, Coming Late earned second place honours ahead of a fast closing Precious Art.
Turnkey Stables of Hamilton and breeder Stephen Scarff of Halifax, NS share ownership on Mylittlerebel, who peeled more than two seconds off her personal best with the win. Friday was the first time the daughter of Camluck and Highland Dancing has visited the winner’s circle since capturing a leg of the Ms Vera Bars Series at Woodbine Racetrack in early February.
Veteran trainer Murray Brethour conditions Mylittlerebel, who now has a record of three wins, four seconds and one third through 15 starts for earnings of $59,931.
Gingras also picked up the drive aboard Mark Steacy trainee Star Of Show in the seventh race and delivered an impressive victory. Saddled with Post 7, the duo eased off the starting gate and were sitting last when Fontana Seelster reached the :28 opening quarter. Shifting into the outer flow heading for the :57.4 half, the pair had closed to within three lengths of the leader by the 1:26 three-quarters, but were still sixth.
Turning for home the field was in a tight bunch, but a smart finishing kick propelled Star Of Show to a three-quarter length victory in 1:55.2. Keepers Destiny, owned by Casie Coleman of Cambridge and Merlin Howse of Langton finished second, while fan favourite Stonebridge Breeze settled for third.
Friday’s victory was the first this season for Star Of Show, who is owned by Peter and David Heffering of Port Perry. The Astreos daughter is no stranger to the Grassroots winner’s circle, capturing two divisions in her freshman campaign and qualifying for the Grassroots Championship where she finished third.
A resident of New Jersey, Gingras was in town for the $118,000 Ellamony Final for aged pacing mares, and the visit proved to be well worth his while. Firing Double Dream N out of Post 2, the pair led from start to finish, claiming the lucrative final with a 1:53.1 effort.
Although not as successful in the Ellamony (his mount finished seventh) Cambridge resident Robert Shepherd also scored the Grassroots driving double on Friday night, piloting Chief Karen and Orally Yours to victory in the second and ninth races.
Starting from Post 7 with Chief Karen, Shepherd emulated Gingras’ tactics and let the filly float off the starting gate into seventh. Making steady progress up the outside through the second quarter of the race, the pair were forced out four-wide on their second tour down the backstretch, but Chief Karen had enough in reserve to reel in Quality Goods and favourite Pantecostal for the one and a half length victory.
Second in the Grassroots season opener at Hanover Raceway on May 30, Chief Karen now has a total of 75 points in her quest for a spot in this year’s Grassroots Championship. Trained by David Menary for Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, PA, the impeccably bred daughter of Camluck and In Your Dreams is a sister to six horses with $100,000-plus in earnings, with Dream Rocket topping the list at $718,904.
Shepherd’s second trip to the Flamboro Downs winner’s circle was the complete opposite of his first, as Orally Yours took command of the race before the quarter-mile marker and never looked back, cruising home a two length winner in 1:56.4. Wen Im The Best, owned by Ron O’Neill of Cambridge, Paul Larrabee and Debi Martin of Freelton and Daniel Harper of Toronto, finished second and Wild West Angel completed the triactor.
Jean Guy Belliveau trains Orally Yours for Dr. Hugh Baird of Hampton, NB, who also bred the daughter of Cammibest and Le Win Skied. Through six starts this season the filly has posted two wins and two thirds for earnings of $16,630. Orally Yours was also a two-time Grassroots winner as a two-year-old and finished sixth in the Grassroots Championship.
The other Grassroots divisions on Friday’s program were captured by Ocean Of Motion in 1:56; Casimir Im O K in 1:57; Euphoria Seelster in 1:55.4; Champale Blue Chip in 1:56.4; Trickysmasterpiece in 1:57.2 and Run To Vegas in 1:53.1.
The sophomore pacing fillies make the third stop on their Grassroots tour on July 10 at Grand River Raceway. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Flamboro Downs on Friday, July 17 with the Grassroots debut of the two-year-old pacing colts.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0619flmdn.dat.