WOODSTOCK, ON — Canadette dropped into the Grassroots program on Saturday afternoon and went home with a trophy and her name inscribed in the Woodstock Raceway track record book.
The three-year-old pacing filly and driver Randy Fritz made short work of an impressive field, including division point leader Twin B Diva, going gate-to-wire in 1:56 to equal the track record set by Tricky just two weeks ago.
Twin B Diva, co-owned by breeder Twinbrook Limited of Embro, finished two lengths behind Canadette, while Ms Michelle D was eight lengths back in third.
Last year’s number three filly in the Gold Series, Canadette has struggled to find her niche this season. Saturday’s victory was her third in 10 starts and her first on Ontario soil. The daughter of Mach Three and former Ontario Sires Stakes star Legacy Of Fame captured the elimination and final of the Northlands Filly Pace in Edmonton, AB in late May. Gregg McNair trains the winner of $391,458 for Robert Chapple of Chatham.
Four races later Admired Beauty added her name to the Woodstock record books with a come from behind 1:56 effort. The daughter of Apaches Fame clawed her way up the outside from Post 6 to score a half length victory over pacesetter Stonebridge Memory and Spocks Luck.
Jody Jamieson piloted Admired Beauty to the win for trainer Jim Ainsworth and owners Larry Ainsworth of Sarnia and William Boden of Vancouver, BC. The mile matched the filly’s personal best and boosted her 2007 record to five wins, one second and two thirds in 18 starts.
Last year’s Grassroots Champion Magic Maverick scored her fourth win of the season in the fourth race, stepping to a 1:57.1 victory over fan favourite Quail Seelster and Secret Grin.
Bred and owned by trainer Bob McIntosh of LaSalle ad C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH, Magic Maverick started her sophomore provincial campaign at the Gold Series level, but dropped back down to the Grassroots for the July 13 event at Grand River Raceway. The Western Maverick daughter was piloted to the one length victory by Ingersoll resident Don McElroy.
McElroy and McIntosh came within a length of catching a second dose of Grassroots glory in the eighth race, but had to settle for second when Playin With Magic could not reel in pacesetter Phoenix Arcane.
Pressured throughout the later half of the mile by Playin With Magic, Phoenix Arcane dug in through the stretch to record the three-quarter length win in 1:57.1. Tymal Vector followed Playin With Magic up the outside to claim the third-place finisher’s share of the $17,883 purse.
Bob Young trains the consistent Phoenix Arcane for Arcane Stable of Whitby. Through 12 starts this season the Western Maverick daughter boasts seven wins, three seconds and one third.
The other two Grassroots divisions went to Just Her Way in 1:56.2 and Lifes A Trip in 1:57.4.
The three-year-old pacing fillies will resume their Grassroots rivalry at Hanover Raceway on Sept. 15, while the Ontario Sires Stakes program makes the second of three stops at Woodstock Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 1 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old trotting colts.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwodsksa.html