INNISFIL, ON — Local reinsman Dan Clements rang up an Ontario Sires Stakes hat trick at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening, capturing three of seven Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing fillies.
Using a classic stalking technique, Clements scored his first victory in Race 1 with Beechwood Duchess. The pair tucked in behind pacesetter Easy Prey through fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:28.3 and then sprinted down the stretch to score the 1:59 victory over hard closing rivals Sparkling Angel and Island Sailing.
Waterdown resident Jared Bothwell trains Beechwood Duchess for his partners R A W Equine of Mississauga and Annemarie Colville of Waterdown. Tuesday’s outing was the Albert Albert daughter’s fourth of the season and marked her first appearance in the winner’s circle.
Four races later Clements teamed up with trainer Philip Coole to land Texas Sweetheart her first lifetime victory. A miscue as the starting gate pulled away left Texas Sweetheart with some ground to make up early in the race, but the Run The Table daughter quickly reeled in the competition and was on top by two lengths at the three-quarter marker. The filly maintained her lead through the stretch and sailed under the wire in 1:58.2.
Bred and owned by Puslinch resident Coole and Sheila Murray of Kincardine, Texas Sweetheart now boasts a record of one win and two second in four starts this season and has a total of 75 points heading into the last two regular season Grassroots events.
Bossladymaamsir and Zivana rounded out the top three in the fourth $15,101 Grassroots division.
Clements clinched the driving hat trick in Race 8, piloting Jake’s Cam to a two and a half length victory over Rustina and Sister Sarah Brown. The fan favourite cruised to the 1:58.4 victory for trainer Brett Robinson and owner-breeders Marilyn and Ian Fromowitz of Richmond Hill. The win was the filly’s first, in just her third lifetime outing.
In the last Grassroots division ICU Roller equalled Texas Sweetheart’s 1:58.2 clocking, sneaking out of the pocket in the stretch to best pacesetter and fan favourite CMR Maybe Loaded by one and a half lengths. Luck Out finished fourth lengths back in third.
Greg Wright, Jr. drove the Intrepid Seelster daughter to the maiden-breaking victory for trainer Gregory Britton and owners Diane Norris of Pompano Beach, FL and Clifford Grundy of Howell, MI.
The other Grassroots divisions went to My Zoomer Girl in 2:00.2, Back To Good in 1:59.2 and Pacific Yankee in 1:58.3.
Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing fillies return to Grassroots action Sept. 15 at Hiawatha Horse Park, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Georgian Downs Saturday, Sept. 17 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old pacing colts.
For complete Grassroots results please go to:
ttp://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgeodftu.html