JUNE 22, 2015 � Campbellville, ON resident Chris Christoforou found his way to the winner’s circle twice in Monday’s three-year-old trotting filly Grassroots season opener at Mohawk Racetrack.

Teaming up with regular mount Bistrobistro Taj in the first $18,000 Grassroots division, Christoforou hustled the filly away from the outside post and settled her in fourth spot, where the pair sat through the :27.2 quarter. Rolling toward the :57.2 half Christoforou sent the striking chestnut filly after the lead, and by the 1:26.1 three-quarters Bistrobistro Taj was comfortably in front.

In the stretch Bistrobistro Taj opened up a four and one-quarter length margin on Judy The Beauty and Cincinnati Miss, sailing under the wire in a personal best 1:55.3.

Christoforou engineered the win for trainer Dustin Jones of Waterdown, ON and owners 9215 6447 Quebec Inc. of Lasalle, QC. The victory was the Pilgrims Taj daughter’s first of the season, but her third lifetime, with the other two victories also coming in Grassroots action. Through 11 lifetime starts Bistrobistro Taj has earned $69,650.

The 2014 O’Brien Award winner’s second Grassroots triumph came in the fourth division, when he piloted Oh My Magic to a 1:57.1 personal best for trainer Per Henriksen of Norwood, ON and Steve Organ of Aurora, ON.

Christoforou and Oh My Magic wrestled command of the race from fan favourite Lady Caterina heading for the three-quarters and then held off late challenger Railee Priti in the stretch to secure the three-quarter length victory. Giona rounded out the top three.

The win was Oh My Magic’s fourth of the season, in which the Kadabra daughter has finished no worse than fourth in eight starts, earning $26,000. The filly is a half-sister to former Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series winner Friendly Amigo, who earned $588,266 in her career.

Trainer Per Henriksen also captured the third Grassroots division with fan favourite Coloratura. Oakville, ON resident Rick Zeron piloted Coloratura to the 1:57.4 win for Henriksen and owner-breeder Andrea Lea Racing Stables of Lakefield Gore, QC. The win was the Angus Hall daughter’s second this season and her first in Grassroots action.

P L Indyanaca and I Feel Good finished second and third, one and one-half lengths behind Coloratura.

Homebred Renegade Magic delivered an impressive effort in the second Grassroots division, ringing up a 1:55.4 personal best for driver Mike Saftic of Campbellville, ON, trainer Ted MacDonnell of Allenford, ON and owner-breeders Jeff and Lori Thomson of Chesley, ON. Hape and Ladyone finished two and one-quarter lengths behind the fan favourite.

Another Henriksen earned the win in the fifth division, with trainer-driver Dagfin Henriksen guiding Lady Ping to a 1:57.1 romp over Stay In Touch and Massima. Peterborough, ON resident Henriksen shares ownership of the Muscle Mass daughter with breeder Dr. Brett Anderson of Port Hope, ON. Through 13 starts this season the filly now has two wins, six seconds and one third for earnings of $42,150.

The final division saw Muscle Kit and driver Sylvain Filion of Milton, ON cruise to a three and one-quarter length victory over Striking Ivy and GS Grasshopper in a personal best 1:56. Ervin Miller of Wind Gap, PA owns and trains the Muscle Mass daughter, whose dam Lookit was a Grassroots winner during her $187,033 career.

The three-year-old trotting fillies make their second Grassroots start on July 1 during Dresden Raceway’s Canada Day program.

Mohawk Racetrack’s action-packed Ontario Sires Stakes schedule continues next Monday, June 29 with the second Gold Leg for the three-year-old pacing colts.

For complete results please visit Mohawk Racetrack Results — Monday, June 22, 2015</>