BELLEVILLE, ON — Two-year-old trotting filly Maleficent scored the fastest victory in five Grassroots divisions at Quinte Exhibition Raceway on Monday afternoon.
The Royal Ballad daughter trotted around the Belleville oval in a smart 2:05.2 to earn a victory in her first lifetime start. Favourite Soxy Kosmos landed the runner-up spot, while Libby T was 29 lengths back in third. Tom Durand trains and drives Maleficent for Thomas and Sherri Vincent of Belwood and June Durand of Puslinch.
Trainer Larry Walker and driver Ross Battin paired up for a double on Monday afternoon, reaching the winner’s circle with Win Some Way in Race 4 and Eager Lois in Race 7.
Win Some Way took full advantage of Post 1, leading from gate to wire in the 2:11.4 victory over Armbro Ceylon and Spring Emmy. Walker trains the Angus Hall daughter, who had two fourth-place finishes to her credit prior to Monday’s event, for David Bradshaw of Wilsonville.
Battin opted to shadow pacesetter Profitable Venture in the eighth race, and Eager Lois eked out the nose victory in the final strides. Profitable Venture settled for second in the 2:09 mile with Chiquita Mia well back in third.
Morriston resident Walker bred Eager Lois and shares ownership on the Eager Seelster daughter with Henri Pouliot of London. The steadily improving filly boosted her record to one win and one third in three starts for earnings of $12,474.
Local filly CS I Ama Star earned her moment in the limelight with a dominant 2:09.2 victory in the sixth race. With trainer Mark Steacy in the race bike the Mr Lavec daughter led the field through all stations, reaching the wire eight and one-quarter lengths in front of Odee Tessa and 15 and one-quarter lengths ahead of Emme Emme.
CS I Ama Star was making her first lifetime start for owners David Reid of Glenburnie, Paul Lindsey of Fergus and Stan Klemencic of Trenton.
The other division went to Starjest, who overcame Post 7 to score the two length 2:12 victory over Elena and Lava Rock. Sent off as the heavy favourite the Angus Hall daughter, owned and trained by Peterborough resident Kendra Casselman, was driven to victory in her career debut by veteran reinsman Doug Hie.
The two-year-old trotting fillies make their third Grassroots start at Casselman and Hie’s hometrack of Kawartha Downs on Aug. 31, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Quinte Exhibition Raceway on Friday, Aug. 13 with Grassroots action for the lightning fast two-year-old pacing colts.