DUNDAS, ON — Trainer Robert Fellows picked up a pair of Grassroots Semifinal trophies at Flamboro Downs on Friday as three-year-old trotting colt Indiana Hall and three-year-old pacing filly Prairie Tracker posted impressive victories.
Leaving from Post 7, Indiana Hall and driver Tony Kerwood made a bold three-wide move at the quarter pole to take command of the ninth race and then cruised around the Dundas half-mile to a four length victory in 1:58.1.
Broadway Seelster, owned by Cambrook Stable of Campbellville, finished second and Norththerushison, owned by trainer Kevin Davidson and Catherine Stewart of Campbellville, picked up the third-place cheque. The last spot in the sophomore trotting colt championship went to fourth-place finisher Heaven And Hall, owned by Hyatt Holdings Inc. and Canamerica Capital Corp. of Milton.
Fellows trains the talented Indiana Hall for S S G Stables of North Boston, NY. The win boosted the Striking Sahbra son’s sophomore record to seven wins, three seconds, one third and earnings of $128,500 in 14 starts.
Trainer-driver Wayne Henry and Balanced Image son Chosen Voyageur also used front end tactics to record a victory in the first three-year-old trotting colt Semifinal, hitting the wire in 1:59.1 for owners the Henry Stable of Arthur and Slabtown Farm of Croton.
I’m Classy, Joey The Jet JT, owned by Ed Hayter of Puslinch, Neil Markowski of Toronto and Leisha Collins of Port Robinson, and Misterizi also advanced to next week’s $100,000 Final.
Rockwood resident Fellows made his second appearance in the Flamboro Downs’s winner’s circle following the tenth race when Prairie Tracker delivered her fourth straight Grassroots victory with a 1:54.2 effort.
The Presidential Ball miss and driver Paul Mackenzie powered to the front from Post 5 and sailed home six and three-quarter length winners over Monte Carlo Madam and Alias Seelster. Stunning Beauty, owned by Michael Williscraft of Grimsby, Paul Henderson of Ancaster, Terry Barnett of Guelph and Gaetan Bono of Laval, QC, also secured a spot in the sophomore pacing filly Final.
Edward James of Aurora owns Prairie Tracker, who was undefeated in three Grassroots starts this season.
In the first pacing filly Semifinal Southwind Madonna and Lyle MacArthur scorched around the Flamboro oval to a 1:53.1 Ontario Sires Stakes record equalling performance. Taking full advantage of Post 1, the Camluck miss led from start to finish, cruising under the wire seven and a half lengths ahead of Camaronni N Cheese, Plumbing Princess and Galaxy Any Size.
Carl MacArthur of Brampton and Talacadac Stable of Kleinburg share ownership on Southwind Madonna, who has captured six wins, eight seconds, four thirds and $156,200 in 30 starts.
Pacing colt Banana Joes Bar continued his domination of the Flamboro half-mile with a 1:53.3 victory in the third race. The Northern Luck son and driver Phil Hudon wrestled control of the race away from Matty McGee just past the opening quarter and then coasted home to a two and three-quarter length win over Matty McGee, Hyperion Hanover and Armbro Dane. Division leader Albert In The City saw his season come to an unexpected end as he finished well behind the leader in sixth.
John Ciarpelli trains Banana Joes Bar for Anne Della Maestra of Waterdown. In his last three starts the colt has posted three victories at Flamboro Downs, including an Ontario Sires Stakes record equalling performance in the Sept. 16 Grassroots event.
In the other pacing colt Semifinal Object Of Art held off a hard charging Bend It to score a half length victory in 1:54.2. Stonebridge Ideal was four lengths back in third and Sauble Justy was three more lengths behind the leaders in fourth.
Wheatley resident Doug McIntosh trains Object Of Art for his partner and fellow breeder Michael Dockendorf of Chicago, IL. Jason Brewer piloted the Camluck gelding to the win.
Taylorlane Crush and Ross Battin delivered the fastest mile of the three-year-old trotting filly Semifinals, posting a 2:00.2 effort to score their fourth straight victory.
The Berndt Hanover miss, trained by James Ruhl of Tara for his partner Murray Ritchie of Owen Sound, hit the wire two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Enlighten Me, Highnmighty and Sophie Soleil.
Orillia Seelster scored the only upset of the evening in the second trotting filly Semifinal, fending off division leader Strikinresemblance in the stretch to record a 2:00.4 victory.
Dave Wall engineered the one length victory for trainer Rickey Moffatt and owners Yves Blouin of London and Ming Siu of Richmond, BC. The win was the filly’s fourth in 16 starts this season.
Gramola Grande and Stonebridge Volare rounded out the top four finishers.
The top four finishers from each Semifinal will return to Flamboro Downs on Saturday, Oct. 7 for their respective $100,000 Grassroots Championships.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rflmdfr.html