CLINTON, ON — Mark Horner’s pre-race assessment of Sunday’s Grassroots event at Clinton Raceway proved to be spot on, as the trainer’s trio of two-year-old pacing fillies performed just as he expected.
Of the St. Marys, ON resident’s three starters, Carsons Maverick delivered a solid effort in the fourth $24,000 division to earn her first lifetime victory, Umygeorgia Hanover finished sixth, and Carsons Satin made an early miscue in her first lifetime start.
Starting from Post 3 with the trainer’s brother Michael Horner in the race bike, Carsons Maverick was well back in fourth when fan favourite Mach Lady reached the opening quarter in :29. Heading for the 1:01 half, the elder Horner sent the Western Maverick lass up the outside and she pressured Mach Lady through the 1:31.3 three-quarters before taking command of the race around the final turn.
Mach Lady went off stride before the fillies straightened out for the stretch drive, so Carsons Maverick was able to coast under the wire to a three length victory in 2:02.2. Favorite Fantasy, owned by Dwight Stacey of Mitchell, ON, trainer Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, ON, and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington, ON, finished second and B R Lucky Lady was elevated from fourth to third as a result of interference caused by Mach Lady.
David Carson of Listowel, ON owns Carsons Maverick, who leapt into the top 16 Grassroots point earners with her victory. Fifth in her Grassroots debut at Kawartha Downs on Aug. 28, the novice pacer has a total of 55 points with two events remaining on the two-year-old pacing filly calendar. The top 16 point earners at the end of the regular season will compete in two $30,000 Semifinals on Oct. 15 at Western Fair Raceway, with the top four from each Semifinal advancing to the $100,000 Championship on Oct. 23.
Currently sharing top spot in the division standings with 125 points are Epoxy Queen and Montenegro, who were both victorious at Clinton on Sunday.
Epoxy Queen wired the third race field with fractions of :29.3, 1:01.1 and 1:30.1 on her way to a commanding five and three-quarter length victory in 1:59.3. Lucky Taryn and The Big Macher picked up the second and third-place finisher’s share of the $24,000 purse.
Brad Rae engineered the Camluck daughter’s second straight Grassroots victory for trainer Eric Adams and owner-breeder Millar Farms of Newmarket, ON. Through six starts the filly has three victories and one second to her credit for earnings of $41,360. She has recorded two wins and one second in three Grassroots outings.
Montenegro and driver Mike Saftic also controlled the tempo on their way to a 1:59 victory in the fourth race. The pair bested Pocket Of Gold by two and one-quarter lengths and Ramadawn by three lengths.
Trained by Louie Eftimiadis for Gerald Mijal of Westland, MI, Montenegro started her Ontario Sires Stakes career at the Gold Series level, finishing third in her July 5 Gold Elimination at Grand River Raceway and second in the Gold Final one week later. After the daughter of Camluck and Cyber Wave failed to make the final of the Battle of the Belles at Grand River and could only manage a fifth in the Aug. 2 consolation, Eftimiadis opted to remain at Grand River for the Aug. 11 Grassroots event rather than return to the Gold Series, and Montenegro finished second to Pocket Of Gold.
Back in Grassroots action at Kawartha Downs on Aug. 28 Montenegro was a 1:56.2 winner, and Sunday’s win boosted her freshman record to two wins, two seconds and two thirds in nine starts for earnings of $71,020.
Arthur, ON resident Trevor Henry drove the winners of the other two Grassroots divisions, making his first appearance in front of the Clinton grandstand with Milliondollarfeeln, who sprinted down the stretch to her second lifetime victory in a clocking of 2:00.3. Trainer Jeffrey Thomson and Lori Thomson of Chesley, ON bred and own the daughter of Million Dollar Cam and Feelin Moody, who sits tied with Carsons Maverick with 55 points from one win and one fifth in Grassroots competition.
Chappies Girl and Daisy Duke Denim rounded out the top three behind Milliondollarfeeln.
In the final Grassroots division, Henry also used a come from behind strategy to land Modern Cinderella in the winner’s circle. The pair reeled in pacesetter Ultimate Hope in the stretch, getting a head in front at the wire, and was able to hold off a late charge from fan favourite Lyons Susan who finished just half a length back.
Also a Grassroots winner at Grand River Raceway on Aug. 11, Modern Cinderella sits ninth in the division standings with 100 points. The Modern Art lass is trained by Jim Ritchie for owner-breeder Ervin Abdulov of London, ON.
The two-year-old pacing fillies will make their second last regular season start on Sept. 29 at Windsor Raceway.
Sunday’s event wrapped up Clinton Raceway’s 2010 Ontario Sires Stakes season, which was highlighted by track record performances from three-year-old trotting fillies Canada Cool and Tommi My Girl in early July. In mid-July the popular half-mile also featured Grassroots performances by the precocious two-year-old pacing colts.
For complete results please go to: Clinton Raceway Results — Sept. 5, 2010