SARNIA, ON — Trainer John Bax had a successful evening at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday, capturing one $23,208 Trillium Series division and finishing first and third in another.
Longshot Desi Sweet Sixteen kicked off the Peterborough resident’s hot streak in the first division with a narrow victory over Emerald Tortilla and favourite Chelemark Spring. One of the Trillium Series blankets presented to the winning horse would have fit over the top four fillies at the finish line as only half a length separated Desi Sweet Sixteen from fourth-place finisher Scotch Thistle.
“Mr. OSS” Dave Wall piloted Desi Sweet Sixteen to the 2:02 victory, her third in 13 starts this season. Bax shares ownership on the Angus Hall daughter with Glengate Farms of Campbellville.
Two races later Bax was back in the Hiawatha winner’s circle with after Shez Mine and Terry Kerr scored a major upset by running down heavy favourite Blossom Seelster in the stretch.
The Balanced Image daughter and Kerr got away smartly from Post 7 and then allowed Blossom Seelster and trainer-driver Mark Etsell to take control of the pace. Kerr and Shez Mine clawed back a three length deficit with an impressive stretch drive that saw them finish a half length in front of Blossom Seelster in 1:57.3.
Bax’s Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough, Brilo Farms of Sharon, breeder Glengate Farms of Campbellville and Kesons Stables Inc. of Cambridge own Shez Mine, who has three wins in 10 starts to her credit this season.
The trainer’s other entry, Trendy Girl, finished well behind her stablemate, but fought off Carla to pick up the third-place finisher’s share. Al Libfeld of Pickering owns Trendy Girl, another daughter of Balanced Image.
The final Trillium Series division went to Gold Series regulars Fiesty Kindof Luv and Trevor Henry in 1:57.2, off a wire-to-wire performance that saw them finish five lengths in front of Crimmings and Paidlast.
Ross Henry of Arthur bred and trains the Fiesty G G daughter, sharing ownership of the $133,958 winner with sons Trevor and Wayne, both of Arthur.
The three-year-old trotting fillies have one Trillium Series remaining on their 2004 schedule, Oct. 9 at Flamboro Downs. In the interim the Ontario-sired fillies will head to either the Aug. 26 Gold Eliminations at Rideau Carleton Raceway or the Sept. 6 Grassroots event at Quinte Exhibition Raceway.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement also returns to Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday, Aug. 26 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old trotting colts.