CLINTON, ON — Last year’s division champion Onyx Killean made a victorious return to the Grassroots on Sunday afternoon, circling the Clinton Raceway half-mile in an effortless 1:57.2.

With trainer Gary Wallace in the race bike, Onyx Killean went straight to the front from Post 1 and cruised along on the front end through fractions of :30.2, 1:01.1 and 1:29.1. Wallace shifted the three-year-old pacing filly up a gear in the stretch and they sailed under the wire four and a half lengths ahead of Tenderness and St Lads Seraph in the fastest mile of the eight Grassroots divisions.

Liam Wallace of Troy owns the talented Onyx Killean, who started her sophomore stakes campaign against the Gold Series fillies at Western Fair Raceway in May, logging a second in the elimination and a sixth in the Gold Final. As a two-year-old the daughter of Astreos rang up six wins and two seconds in eight starts, recording her personal best 1:56.2 in the Grassroots championship at Kawartha Downs.

Driver Brad Forward opened the Clinton program on a winning note, steering Doinsomethingright to a 1:59.4 win for trainer Bill Bud, then went on to capture two more Grassroots divisions to record the driving hat trick.

Doinsomethingright delivered a gritty first over effort to run down pacesetter Jettas Fortune and third-place finisher Alice N Wonderluck. It was the thirteenth time lucky for the Camluck filly, who is owned by Newberry Racing Stable of Bolton.

Forward’s second trip to the winner’s circle came with Bob McIntosh trainee All Accounted For in the fifth race. Starting from the outside Post 7, the pair were forced to circle three-wide at the three-quarters to find their way to the front, but once they got there it was smooth sailing all the way to the 1:59.2 finish. Pacesetter Rambaran Star, trained by Clinton resident Paul Taylor, finished three and three-quarter lengths back in second and Be Good To Me rounded out the top three.

Windsor resident McIntosh trains Camluck daughter All Accounted For on behalf of his partners Paul Ysebaert of Mooretown and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH. The former Gold Series competitor was making just her second start of the season and her first in Ontario Sires Stakes action.

Forward completed the hat trick in the eighth race, changing tactics to propel Slomotion to a front end 1:58 victory. Greek Beach was a length back in second and Casimir Hugs was three lengths to the rear in third.

The win marked the Jason Libby trainee’s third straight and boosted her bankroll to $23,220. Sunday’s outing was the Camotion daughter’s first foray in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.

Kingfishers Gypsy handed Keystone Mystique her first defeat of the year with a come from behind effort in the fourth race. Driver Trevor Henry and Paul Taylor trainee Keystone Mystique carved all the fractions in the 1:57.3 mile, but were caught in the stretch by Kingfishers Gypsy and Slaley.

The number four filly on the freshman Grassroots circuit, Kingfishers Gypsy boasts a record of two wins in six starts this season for trainer Rob Fellows and owners M L Capton Ent. Inc. of Ohsweken. Michael Whelan piloted the Bo Knows Jate daughter to Sunday’s victory.

The other $20,000 Grassroots divisions went to Speed McQueen in 1:59, Windsong Eclipse in 1:58.1 and Call Me Yours in 1:57.4.

The three-year-old pacing fillies do not return to Grassroots action until Aug. 2, when they will journey to Woodstock Raceway. Clinton Raceway hosts it’s second Ontario Sires Stakes event of the season on Sunday, July 27 when the two-year-old trotting colts will test their skills in Grassroots battle.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rclntnsu.html