BELLEVILLE, ON — Curitiba clocked the fastest of three Trillium Series divisions at Quinte Raceway on Friday evening. The three-year-old trotting filly stopped the teletimer at 2:02, crossing under the wire almost six lengths ahead of the competition.
Mark Steacy trains the Pine Chip daughter for Peter Heffering of Port Perry, David Reid of Kingston and Stan Klemencic of Trenton. The win was her second of the season and inched her $10,313 closer to the $200,000 goal her connections have set for this season.
One of six Ross Henry trainees competing in the Trillium Series, Ava Hall finished second while John Bax and Brylin Starlet wrapped up the top three.
The second division went to Smoky Sunset, who out trotted Equine Grace and pacesetter Queen Of Stormont for the victory. A daughter of Mr Lavec, Smoky Sunset has been a consistent performer all season, recording two wins, one second and three thirds in nine starts. Curt Bond trains and drives Smoky Sunset for 874301 Ontario Limited of Scotland.
The final division went to Grand Tiara in 2:05.2. Sent off as the fans’ favourite, Grand Tiara and trainer-driver Jim Whelan took the long way around the half-mile oval, rolling up the outside from Post 7 and making a bold three-wide move at the three-quarter pole to take control of the race.
Victorian Lady and Gretels Lavec picked up the second and third finisher’s share of the $20,627 purse when Parkhill Yuriskit and Please Remember Me were placed back from second to sixth and fourth to seventh.
Whelan of Troy and Paul Lindsey of Fergus own Grand Tiara, who almost doubled her lifetime earnings with the win.
The Grassroots fillies now head for Hiawatha Horse Park on July 13 for their second event of the season while the top level horses clash at Woodbine Racetrack on July 15 in Gold Elimination action. The fillies have just one Trillium event remaining on their schedule in October at Rideau Carleton Raceway.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Quinte Raceway on Monday with five Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing colts.