HANOVER, ON — Mario Baillargeon had the magic touch at Hanover Raceway on Saturday evening, capturing two Grassroots trophies, the Balanced Image Filly Trot Final and one overnight contest.
After an overnight win in the second race of Hanover’s All Trot card, the Milton resident posted back-to-back wins in the first two Grassroots contests.
Over a rain-soaked oval rated one second slower than normal, Baillargeon dropped Dee Dee Pucker into the pocket behind early pacesetter Incredible Her Bee and then moved to the outside heading for the three-quarters. A smart finishing kick propelled the three-year-old trotting filly to a one and one-quarter length victory in 2:01.1 over fan favourite Racing Dreams. Action Image Hall rounded out the top three.
Baillargeon engineered the win for trainer Rene Allard and owner Terry Hunter of Cambridge. It was the Amigo Hall daughter’s third of the season and her second in Grassroots action, boosting her regular season ending point tally to 120.
Starting from the trailing Post 8 in the second $24,000 Grassroots division, Baillargeon eased Elin into sixth spot through the early going and then tipped the filly out three-wide at the three-quarter marker. Elin powered by the leaders and sailed home to a three and one-half length victory in 2:00.2. Pacesetter Noble Peace Prize settled for second and Movement completed the triactor.
Ian Downey trains Elin for S S G Stables of North Boston, NY. Through 12 starts this season the Angus Hall lass has posted two wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $42,785. She will advance to the Sept. 19 Semifinals at Grand River Raceway with 125 points earned in just three Grassroots starts.
One race later Baillargeon captured the $36,000 Balanced Image Filly Trot Final with Muscle Mass daughter Princess Lilly, sailing to a five length triumph in 1:59.4 for his brother, trainer Benoit Baillargeon, and owner Les Ecuries Piramidan of Gatineau, QC.
Scott Coulter employed front end tactics to land Fiorentina in the winner’s circle following the third Grassroots division. The Angus Hall daughter stopped the teletimer at 1:59.4 to best favourite Can I Say by a head and Cool Creek Breeze by one and one-quarter lengths.
Craig Yates conditions Fiorentina for Frank Lamacchia and breeder Guy Polillo of Brantford and Brad Gray of Dundas. Saturday’s win was the filly’s second Grassroots victory of the season and gives her a point tally of 121.
Trainer Per Henriksen piloted Now Shes Gone to her first Grassroots victory in the seventh race, crossing the wire one and one-quarter lengths ahead of Stormont Fried and Windsong Isis in 2:01.4. Henriksen trains the Kadabra daughter for Stan Klemencic of Trenton and ASA Farm of Norwood.
Arthur resident Trevor Henry teamed up with Brad Maxwell trainee Dancehall Mistress in the eighth race and landed the filly her third Grassroots trophy. The pair cruised home two and three-quarter lengths ahead of fan favourite Majic Trend and Ithinkshestheone in 1:59.
David Goodrow Stable of Cambridge, Douglas Millard of Woodstock, P G Van Camp Stables of Port Perry and Glenn Tarver of Scarborough share ownership of Dancehall Mistress, who has also dabbled in the Gold Series this season. The Angus Hall daughter is flawless in three Grassroots starts giving her 150 points and a berth in the post season.
The last Grassroots trophy went home with Tymal Breezee, who sailed along on the front end to a half length victory over Gourmandine and Girl Drama in 2:02.3. Arthur resident Bruce Richardson crafted the win for trainer France MacLean and owners Gerry and Brenda Gauthier of Azilda and Paul MacLean of Chelmsford.
The top 16 point earners will now begin preparations for the Sept. 19 Semifinals at Grand River Raceway, with the top four from each Semifinal earning a shot at the Grassroots Championship on Sept. 29.
Saturday night’s performances by the three-year-old trotting fillies completed Hanover Raceway’s 2012 Ontario Sires Stakes schedule, which featured a record setting evening by the sophomore pacing fillies in June.
For complete results please go to Hanover Raceway Results — September 8, 2012