Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action for rookie pacing fillies got underway July 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Bankers Luck a heavy favourite in the first of five divisions, didn’t need any luck to start the evening off with a statement win.
The Tony Alagna trainee was sent off as the 1-9 favourite in the field of nine. Leaving from post two James MacDonald settled her into fifth position early behind fractions of 27.4 and 57.2 set by Ys Bookwriter (Sportswriter).
MacDonald sent the Hes Watching filly first up as the field entered the far turn. She passed the leader in the stretch and paced home in 28.0 for a two-length score.
“Bankers Luck was terrific,” said MacDonald. “I just tried to keep her out of trouble and educate as best I could while still trying to make sure we got the win. She did everything I asked with ease and looks to have a very bright future.”
The result was no surprise to the bettors, and Alagna’s mom Donna Lee who trained the filly this winter.
“She’s been that type of filly all winter,” said Lee. “She trained in Florida and was one of my top three all winter. So, she didn’t shock me tonight because I know she had incredible speed.”
Bankers Luck was an $85,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Select sale in October, and she came to Florida from Kentucky ready to work.
“She loved her work and she loved being on the track,” said Lee. “We train in sets of eight or nine, and she would have her ears forward, and want to go. She had a great attitude. She never had a bad day.”
The filly will target OSS Gold divisions the remainder of the season and is nominated to all the major stakes races at Mohawk. She is owned by Brittany Farms Llc, of Versailles, KY.
Ys Sportswriter held on to second, with Bob McClure driving for trainer Jacques Dupont. It was the filly’s first career start for owner Ecurie Csl, from Sorel-Tracy, Que. Travis Cullen piloted Ashlees Sweetie (Betterthancheddar) to a third-place finish. Ashley Lendvoy trains for owner Gino Toscani of Mount Hope, Ont.
In the second and fourth division, Chris Christoforou completed a driving double, beginning with Sweetest Belle in race three.
Christoforou maneuvered the Sportswriter filly from post eight into third position by the quarter mile. He moved her first up to the front, taking the lead by the half mile that she never relinquished, fending off a late charge from Momentary Control.
“Sweestest Belle really caught my attention the first time I sat behind her, a slick gaited filly with a great attitude,” said Christoforou. “She won by a small margin but was quite comfortable doing it.”
Susanne Kerwood trained the winner for Frank Brundle (East Garafraxa, Ont.) and Gordon Lyons (Georgetown, Ont.)
Christoforou also piloted the winner in race 7, Carla Cam for trainer Rodney Duford. Leaving from rail position the filly was fourth at the half-mile and powered first up to charge all the way home for the win.
“It was my first time behind Carla Cam, another good gaited filly that enjoys racing,” said Christoforou. “She went a tough trip but was very game. Hopefully both fillies continue to improve throughout the year.”
Carla Cam is owned by Duford, a resident of Leamington, Ont.
Race five was the third Grassroots affair, and Favorite Beach (Sunshine Beach) was the upset winner.
Trevor Henry sat the 8-1 shot off fractions of 28.2 and 58.3 before charging to the front at the half. He would keep her in front, and the Robert MacIntosh trainee held off a late charging Maple (Sportswriter) to win by a neck.
MacIntosh co-owns the homebred with S X Stables (Liberty Center, OH) and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc (Leamington, Ont.)
The final Grassroots action took place in race nine with Louis-Philippe Roy steering even money favourite Best Actress, who he co-owns with Bill Donovan of Delray Beach, FL, to victory.
Roy had his Betterthancheddar filly positioned second as the field entered the stretch, and the Eric Nadeau trainee powered home to score in 1:54.4.
Click here for full results from July 5 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Click here for current OSS Standings.