SUDBURY, ON — Coastal Living travelled to Sudbury Downs on Saturday night to make her Ontario Sires Stakes debut and the two-year-old pacing filly delivered an impressive effort to earn a victory in the fastest of six Grassroots divisions.

Starting from Post 6, Coastal Living eased away from the starting gate and was sitting fourth when pacesetter Twin B Diva hit the opening quarter in :29.4. Heading toward the 1:01.3 half, driver Mario Baillargeon sent the filly up the outside in pursuit of the leader and she had gained command of the race well before the 1:31 three-quarters.

A solid finishing kick propelled Coastal Living to a 2:00.2 victory, three lengths ahead of Freckly Sara and fan favourite Grace And Harv.

John Kopas trains Coastal Living for breeder Winbak Farm of Chesapeake City, MD and prepped her for Saturday night’s contest with a pair of qualifiers and an overnight at Mohawk Racetrack in recent weeks. The Island Fantasy miss is a half sister to $457,235 winner Donna’s Girl.

Baillargeon also teamed up with trainer Ben Wallace for a pair of Grassroots victories on Saturday, piloting Coalford Rustler and St. Patty’s Love to their second set of Grassroots trophies.

Coalford Rustler was an effortless winner in the first $17,173 division, cruising around the Sudbury half-mile on the front end to a two length decision in 2:03.4. Twin B Godiva and Cunning Stunts rounded out the top three in Race 2.

Wallace trains Coalford Rustler for Gary Maw of Littletown County Durham, ENG. Maw acquired the daughter of Rustler Hanover and Sweetie Gonzalez at last fall’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale for $9,500 and has already banked $20,380 on her behalf through three starts.

In Race 9 Baillargeon once again opted to control the tempo of the race and St. Patty’s Love laid down fractions of :30, 1:01.4 and 1:31.3 on her way to a two length victory in 2:01.4. Iwantyou Wantyou survived a tough trip around the outside to finish second and Lone Maverick overcame some early interference to claim the third-place finisher’s share.

Alfred Ross of South Dartmouth, MA bred and owns St. Patty’s Love, who is flawless through two starts this season. The Mach Three daughter currently shares the lead atop the freshman pacing filly division standings with her stablemate Coalford Rustler. Both fillies have a flawless 100 points through two Grassroots events.

Val’s Vision made a leap up the standings with a 2:01.2 victory in the fifth race to add to the third-place finish she scored in the Grassroots season opener at Woodstock Raceway on July 8. The Astreos daughter and driver Anthony MacDonald did all the work on the front end and dug in through the stretch to fend off Ja El Elegantmoves by half a length. Leave Her Laughing was seven lengths back in third.

Gerry Sparling of West Hill, Kenneth Raspin of Goderich and Larry Jeffrey of Goderich share ownership on Val’s Vision and Stanley Atkinson handles training duties on the young pacer.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Chloe’s Silver Star in 2:01.3 and Playin With Magic in 2:03.

The two-year-old pacing fillies make their third stop on the Grassroots circuit on Aug. 7 at Dresden Raceway. Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Sudbury Downs on Sunday, Aug. 6 with the second last Grassroots event for the three-year-old pacing fillies.

For complete results please go to:

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