ELORA, ON — Heading into the second last Grassroots event of the regular season, three-year-old trotting filly First Avenue was in need of a big effort at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday night to keep her hopes for the post season alive.
Starting from Post 6 in the second $24,000 Grassroots division, First Avenue and driver Donald Dupont got away toward the back of the eight filly field and were driving up the outside before early pacesetter Oaklea Sierra reached the :28.4 opening quarter. Heading for the :59.1 half the pair picked up cover behind Harlequin Seelster, who was pursuing fan favourite Striking Pat, and when Harlequin Seelster dropped down onto the rail Dupont asked First Avenue to keep on rolling.
The Ken Warkentin daughter complied and soon found herself all alone on the front end as both Harlequin Seelster and Striking Pat made breaks that knocked them out of contention. Sailing along without company, First Avenue reached the wire eight and three-quarter lengths ahead of the field in 1:59.4, the fastest time of the seven Grassroots divisions. Your Word Is Good earned second-place honours and Oaklea Sierra finished third.
Carlisle, ON resident Marie Dupont trains First Avenue for owner Richard Nault of Montreal, QC. Heading into Wednesday’s test the filly had posted two seconds in Grassroots action for a total of 50 points. The filly’s first provincial victory boosts her point tally to 100, and makes her a legitimate contender for one of the 16 spots in the Oct. 16 Grassroots Semifinals.
Three races later Canada Cool, the runner-up in last year’s two-year-old trotting filly Championship, assured herself of a repeat appearance in the post season with her third Grassroots victory. The Angus Hall miss dominated the sixth race field, controlling the pace from gate to wire and sailing across the finish line seven and one-half lengths ahead of Northern Gem and Carscot Review in 2:00.3.
Simon Allard engineered Canada Cool’s victory, and accomplished a major milestone of his own in the process. When Allard sailed across the finish line in front, it was the 1,000th time he has done so in his five-year driving career. The Waterdown, ON resident is having a career year, driving 1,890 horses to 344 wins, 302 seconds and 255 thirds and earnings of over $2.6 million. With three months remaining on the racing calendar, Allard has already surpassed his 2009 statistics. Propelled by horses like Canada Cool, Allard is currently ranked seventh among Ontario Sires Stakes drivers.
Mark Steacy trains Canada Cool for Katherine Steacy of Lansdowne, ON, David Reid of Glenburnie, ON, Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing of Campbell River, BC and Joe Loring of Canmore, AB. Through 10 sophomore starts the talented young trotter has accumulated four wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of $56,576. With just one event remaining in the regular season, Canada Cool sits atop the division standings with 162 points.
Isthatallyagot also made a leap up the standings with a 2:00.2 come from behind effort in the seventh race. The Southwind Lustre miss and driver Anthony MacDonald of Guelph, ON reeled in the leaders around the final turn and then sprinted home to a six and one-quarter length decision over Our Angel Flight and Tender N Kind.
Guelph, ON resident James MacDonald conditions Isthatallyagot for Terry Hunter of Troy, ON, and has sent the filly behind the gate 14 times this season, resulting in three wins, one second, three thirds and earnings of $44,029. Isthatallyagot recorded her first Grassroots win of the season at Hiawatha Horse Park on June 10, finished third at Clinton Raceway on July 4 and then made an unfortunate break at Sudbury Downs in the Aug. 11 event that prevented her from adding to her point tally. She arrived at Grand River with 62 points and heads home with a more secure 112.
Scottish Starlet added a win to her previous third-place performance on Wednesday, but trainer Mike Keeling of Cambridge, ON will be hoping she can pad that point tally further in the last regular season event on Oct. 5 at Georgian Downs. The Angus Hall miss led the field through fractions of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:29.2 and then battled hard in the stretch to hang on for a three-quarter length victory in 2:01.2. Tymal Yoko and Princess Nahanni finished a hard fought second and third.
Owned by P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc. of Cambridge, ON, Charles Armstrong of Brampton, ON and Robert Fasken of Oakville, ON, Scottish Starlet has not been worse than third in seven starts this season, but Wednesday’s effort was her first sophomore victory.
The other three-year-old trotting filly divisions went to Keystone Ballerina in 2:02.4; Miss Dangles in 2:01.1, and Tyrone Showgirl in 2:01.
Grand River Raceway hosts eliminations for its final Ontario Sires Stakes event on Monday, Sept. 20, welcoming the lightning fast three-year-old pacing fillies to Elora for their second last Gold Series event. The $130,000 Gold Final will go postward on Sept. 27.
For complete results please go to: Grand River Raceway Results — Sept. 8, 2010