WOODBINE, ON — Armbro Amaze continued her love affair with Hanover Raceway on Saturday night, capturing her Grassroots division by an impressive nine lengths in 2:00.
Just one week after capturing the Dream Of Glory Trot Final in a track record 1:59, the three-year-old trotting filly and driver Ross Battin romped unchallenged around the half-mile oval to record their third win of the season. Express Gal was well back in second, with Rapid Duchess another five lengths to the rear in third.
Orton resident Frank O’Reilly trains Armbro Amaze for partners John Fielding of Toronto and John Jesson of Tillsonburg. The trio have banked $49,266 on the King Conch daughter’s behalf this season through nine starts.
Threatening Armbro Amaze’s newly established speed mark was Oh Emma, who sprinted down the stretch to score a 1:59.2 victory by seven lengths in the sixth race. Favourite and pacesetter Wanabeamillionaire finished second and Ms Rodriguez was 13 lengths behind the winner in third.
Trained and driven by Robert McClure for Linda Dennis of Barrie, Oh Emma struggled in her Grassroots debut at Sudbury Downs on July 12, but prepped for Saturday’s contest with a solid 2:00 victory at Georgian Downs on July 26, convincing Hanover fans to send her off as their third choice.
Two races later local fillies Northern Pixie and Joyful Day delivered solid performances to finish second and third behind former Gold Series star Independent Woman. Firing out of Post 4, Independent Woman and Wayne Henry took control of the race before the quarter pole and reeled off fractions of :29.4, 1:00.1 and 1:30 en route to the 1:59.3 victory.
Northern Pixie, trained and driven by Owen Sound’s Paul Walker for his partner Carscot Stables of Toronto, was two and a half lengths back in second and Joyful Day, trained and driven by Hanover’s Mark Etsell for partners Robert Newton of Walkerton and Larry Clements of Listowel, was three more lengths back in third. The remainder of the field trailed home 14 lengths behind the winner.
A winner of $220,878 at two, Independent Woman has struggled this season and was making just her second appearance in the winner’s circle Saturday night. Her first victory came one week ago in a non-winners event at the Hanover half-mile. The Henry Stable of Arthur owns the Royal Strength daughter and Ross Henry handles training duties.
The Henry’s also had a victory in the tenth race when St Lads Abby was placed ahead from second to first after Mikestory, a former rival of Independent Woman’s, made a break at the wire. Just a neck back, St. Lads Abby was awarded the 2:00.4 win over Mikestory, with Chips Chip taking home the third-place finisher’s share of the $18,000 purse.
The other Grassroots divisions went to I Dream Of Daisy in 2:02.3, Sephora in 2:03.3, Crown Royalty in 2:02.4 and Vics Flag in 2:03.1.
The sophomore trotting fillies make their fourth Grassroots start at Dresden Raceway on Labour Day, Monday, Sept. 1, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Hanover Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 23 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old trotting fillies.