INNISFIL, ON — Second in the Ontario Sires Stakes driver’s standings last season, Jason Brewer boosted his 2008 point tally with a pair of Grassroots victories at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening with three-year-old trotting fillies Fa Mulan and Majestic Style.
The reinsman led off the evening with an impressive score aboard fan favourite Fa Mulan, piloting the filly to a four and one-quarter length victory in 1:57.3. Starting from Post 1, Fa Mulan was outgunned off the gate by three horses, but Brewer sent the Berndt Hanover daughter after the lead before the halfway marker and she simply accelerated away from the field with every step. Early leader Magical Wand finished second, while Greater Good was a full eight lengths to the rear in third.
The win was the second straight for Fa Mulan, who is trained by Richard Griffiths of Thorndale for Ming and Irene Siu of Richmond, BC. Through 19 starts this season the filly has logged 10 wins, three seconds and one third for earnings of $70,190. In five Grassroots outings Fa Mulan has recorded two wins, one second and one fifth for a total of 130 points and sole ownership of fifth spot in the division standings.
Brewer made his second trip to the winner’s circle following the second $20,000 Grassroots division, engineering a come from behind victory for Majestic Style. The pair eased off the gate from Post 2 and sat fifth through the early stages of the mile, starting up on the outside heading for the 1:28.1 three-quarters.
Turning for home Majestic Style had a neck in front of pacesetter Style Defined, and the fan favourite was able to extend that to three-quarters of a length before she halted the teletimer at 1:58.3. Good Common Cents edged out Style Defined for the runner-up spot, leaving the pacesetter to settle for third-place spoils.
The win was Majestic Style’s third in Grassroots action and boosted her point tally to 158, just four points behind division leader Valley Courtney. Campbellville resident Blair Burgess trains the Angus Hall miss for breeder Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY. Through 14 sophomore starts the filly has six wins and $60,846 in earnings, well behind a trio of successful siblings, including $403,525 winner Act Of Grace.
With the top two point earners competing in Gold Series action this month, the door was open for fillies sitting within striking distance of the top 16 and Allmar Surprise stormed through with a 1:59.1 victory in the seventh race.
Thornton resident Stephen Byron was in the race bike behind Allmar Surprise and hustled the filly away from Post 6 to a :28.1 opening quarter. The Angus Hall daughter continued to lead the field through a :57.4 half and a 1:28.1 three-quarters before accelerating down the stretch to the three and three-quarter length victory. Lady Merlot and Tuscan Sky finished second and third, while a tough trip up the outside left fan favourite Random Solution well back of the leaders in seventh.
John Bax trains Allmar Surprise for the Mark Ten Stable of Russell, one of the popular New Owner’s Groups set up by the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association. The group of new owners and mentor Dr. Ruth Irving acquired Allmar Surprise at the 2006 Forest City Yearling Sale for $32,000 and have watched her evolve into a steady sophomore competitor with a record of four wins, two seconds, one third and earnings of $30,350 through 12 starts this season. In Grassroots action the filly has posted one win, one second and one third for a total of 87 points, good enough for the second last spot in the race for one of 16 berths in the Oct. 16 Semifinal.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Ocean Mist Dynasty in 1:57 and Pleasure Girls in 1:57.3.
The three-year-old trotting fillies wrap up their regular season at Flamboro Downs on Oct. 6, just 10 days before the top 16 point earners return to Flamboro for Semifinal action. The impressive display put on by the sophomore trotting lasses put the perfect finish on an outstanding season of Ontario Sires Stakes action at Georgian Downs, which saw four track records fall on the inaugural Gold Rush event in June.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgeodftu.html.