HANOVER, ON — After getting rained out on Saturday evening, Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing fillies had perfect weather for their rescheduled Grassroots event at Hanover Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, and the clear skies and warm temperatures produced an impressive track record in the second $24,000 division.
Rolling up behind the Hanover starting gate from Post 2, Lyons Anitacol went straight to the front and rocked around the half-mile oval with fractions of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:25.1. The E Dees Cam daughter and driver Brad Forward streaked across the finish 10 lengths ahead of the competition in a track record 1:54.2. Jodies Romance paced into second-place, with Rossridge Fastreos another 11 lengths back in third.
The mile demolished the former two-year-old pacing filly record of 1:57.2 set by Ontario Sires Stakes regular Teacher Supreme in 2005, and came within one-fifth of a second of matching the all-age record of 1:54.1 set by Magical GG on Aug. 11, 2007.
Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford owns Lyons Anitacol, who finished second in her Grassroots debut at Kawartha Downs on July 18. Since then, the Bill Robinson trainee has added a runner-up finish in her Battle of the Belles Elimination and a fourth in the final, contested over the Grand River Raceway half-mile on July 27 and Aug. 3.
Mound purchased the first foal from $168,636 winner Thereal Ideal at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale for $20,000 and has already recouped $38,500 through the filly’s first five starts.
Forward and Robinson teamed up for a second victory in the seventh race, posing in the winner’s circle with Windsong Gentille. The Modern Art miss matched the old track record with her 1:57.2 win, pacing under the wire seven and three-quarter lengths ahead of local filly Mach Dismissal. Jeff and Lori Thomson of Chesley bred and own Mach Dismissal, who was one length ahead of third-place finisher Mobro Flirt.
Breeder William Loyens of London shares ownership on Windsong Gentille with Vito Frijia of London and Harry Loyens of Ilderton. The half-sister to $154,970 winner Windsong Experanza was flawless through her first three lifetime starts, capturing a pair of overnights and her July 18 Grassroots division. After finishing third in her Battle of the Belles Elimination, Windsong Gentille drew into the final when one of her peers was forced to withdraw due to sickness and finished sixth in the 1:56.2 mile.
Young reinsman Scott Zeron also scored a Grassroots double at Hanover on Wednesday, engineering victories for Hanna Montana and Storms Never Last in the first and last races of the afternoon program.
Starting from Post 6, Hanna Montana worked hard to reel in pacesetter Windows Online and pocket sitter Classic Gem and earn the head victory in 1:58.2. Ron Kerr trains the Astreos daughter for Dennis Jewitt of Wingham and Christopher Jewitt of De Pere, WI, and Wednesday’s outing was the filly’s second victory in seven starts.
With the advantageous Post 1 in the last division, Zeron sent Storms Never Last straight to the front and the Camotion daughter rolled through fractions of :29, 1:00 and 1:29.2 on her way to a one and one-quarter length victory in 1:58.2. Coconut Cove and fan favourite Tymal Talea rounded out the top three.
Darren McCall trains Storms Never Last for Brian Walkington of Carrollton, IL and Mark Winship of Canton, IL. Through four starts the filly has one win and one second to her credit.
The other Grassroots trophies went home with Gotta Bounce (2:00.1); Wisconsin Made (2:00.1); Misty Moonstone (1:58.3); and MC Taylor (1:58).
The two-year-old pacing fillies make their third Grassroots start at Woodstock Raceway on Aug. 22, while Hanover Raceway fans will send off summer while watching the two-year-old trotting fillies compete in Grassroots action on Saturday, Sept. 5.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0812hnvra.dat.