INNISFIL, ON — After an impressive display by the Gold Series two-year-old trotting fillies on Tuesday, Georgian Downs fans will have a chance to see the same division in Grassroots action this Saturday.

A total of 36 freshman trotting fillies will test their skills in four $26,222 Grassroots divisions, and veteran trotting conditioner John Bax will harness two contenders.

“They’re both homebreds,” says Bax. “And for homebreds they’re doing everything right, the wheels haven’t fallen off yet.”

Determined Dreamer will bat lead off for the Bax team, facing up to the Grassroots challenge from Post 8 in the first race. The daughter of Malabar Maple and Guardian Image heads into the race off a July 3 qualifier at Kawartha Downs, where she trotted to a third-place finish in 2:06.4, and a two-year-old event at Georgian Downs on July 8 which saw her finish sixth in the 2:01.2 mile.

“There’s not much to her, but I like her attitude,” notes Bax, whose Parkhill Stud Farm shares ownership on the filly with Karen Debnam of Little Britain. “If she’s just a Grassroots horse, that’s all I’m looking for.”

Four races later Taketwo N Callme will step up to the plate from Post 1. The Dr Ronerail filly is the fourth foal out of Balanced Image mare Image Of Victory and Bax says she has some of her grandsire’s intensity.

“Taketwo N Callme is a big, powerful filly. She’s a bit head strong, there’s lots of Balanced Image fire in her,” says the Peterborough resident. “I drove her myself in her first start and she behaved well. I was pleased with her.”

After a June 30 qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack where Taketwo N Callme trotted to a fifth-place effort in 2:05.4, Bax started her in a maiden at Kawartha Downs on July 12. In against older horses, the filly delivered a solid 2:03.4 effort to finish fifth.

John Hayes of Sharon, George Grant of Oakwood and Bax’s Parkhill Stud Farm bred and own Taketwo N Callme, and the group would love to see her outperform all of her siblings.

“I’ve had a couple of her sisters and brothers and they were never anything special, so it would be a nice surprise if she showed a little quality,” reflects Bax. “But my expectations aren’t too high.”

Thornton resident Stephen Byron will steer both Determined Dreamer and Taketwo N Callme on Saturday, stepping into the race bike for the first time on both fillies.

Determined Dreamer and her first race peers will kick off Georgian Downs’s Saturday night program at 7:35 pm and the two-year-old trotting fillies will also be spotlighted in Races 3, 5, and 7.

For complete entries please go to:

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