HANOVER, ON — Randy Fritz served up a platter of victories for the hometown crowd at Hanover Raceway on Saturday evening. The Walkerton native piloted four three-year-old pacing fillies to victory on the action-packed Grassroots program.
Fritz kicked off his impressive run in the second race with the first of three Bob McIntosh trainees he would guide to victory. Leaving from Post 1 Fritz and A Days Worship took full advantage of their position, going straight to the front and never facing a challenge through the 1:57.3 mile.
LaSalle resident McIntosh shares ownership on the Camluck daughter with fellow breeders Paul Ysebaert of Mooretown and Seymour Grundy of Howell, MI. The win was A Days Worship’s third of the season and her first in Ontario Sires Stakes action.
Armbro Bashful and favourite Keltic Sarah rounded out the top three in the $15,000 contest.
Three races later Fritz opted for come from behind tactics with William Companion’s M T Freedom. The filly powered to the front before the three-quarters and proceeded to run off from the field, reaching the wire six lengths on top in 1:57.2. Sent off as the heavy favourite, M T Freedom bested Nancys Lucky Lady and Impertinent.
Common Sense Stable of Rockwood and Melissa Robinson of Calgary, AB share ownership on Albert Albert daughter M T Freedom.
Aboard his second McIntosh mount of the evening, Fritz once again found himself alone in front of the field. Palma Ceia rolled around the Hanover oval in 1:57.3, besting Ramas Native and Kiss For Luck by seven and a half lengths.
McIntosh, Ysebaert, Clifford Grundy of Howell, MI and Michael Kohler of Sterling Heights, MI bred and own Palma Ceia, who started her Ontario Sires Stakes season at the Gold level.
Finally, Fritz and Armbro Bijou inherited the Grassroots trophy in Race 11 when favourite Pinnacle Express was moved from first to last for causing interference while on a break in the first turn. The Camluck daughter is owned by Armstrong Bros. of Inglewood and was making her first start in the Grassroots program after taking an unsuccessful run at the Gold fillies in June.
Pocketfulastarlite and Dreamfair Carrie were also moved up one place into second and third.
Fritz capped off his superlative evening with three seconds, one third and one fifth, missing the top five with just two starters.
The other highlight of the 12 race program was a track record performance by Illusionist in the third Grassroots division. The Camluck daughter and driver Stephen Byron gunned off the gate from Post 7, took control of the race before the halfway marker and sprinted off to a seven length victory in 1:55.2, taking more than one second off the former record for three-year-old pacing fillies set by Mark Etsell’s top Ontario Sires Stakes filly Ghost Of Sweepall in 1998.
Wipethatsmerkoff and fan favourite Patty Ben Beau settled for second and third in the lightning fast mile.
Fred Drouillard of Windsor bred, owns and trains Illusionist, who boasts a record of seven wins, two seconds and three thirds in 14 starts this season.
Ontario’s talented three-year-old pacing fillies resume their Grassroots rivalry on Aug. 17 at Kawartha Downs, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Hanover Raceway on Saturday, Aug. 7 with Grassroots action for the three-year-old trotting colts.