FRASERVILLE, ON — Local favourite Hi Edith came up with a personal best effort to claim the first three-year-old trotting filly Grassroots Semifinal at Kawartha Downs on Thursday evening.

In rein to part-owner Doug Hie, the Earl daughter powered up the outside heading by the three-quarter pole and then accelerated down the stretch to a three and three-quarter length triumph in 1:58.1.

Tymal Timeout drew in off the also eligible list when her stablemate Windsong Darling came up sick, and the Wayne Henry trainee took full advantage of the opportunity, grabbing the runner-up’s share of the $30,000 purse. Paris Oaks earned the third-place spot and Don Wan Misy rounded out the qualifiers for the Oct. 27 Grassroots Championship.

Hie shares ownership on Hi Edith with his brother, trainer Roger Hie of Cobourg. The partners also bred and raised the filly, who improved her record to seven wins, three seconds and one third in 14 starts.

Peterborough resident John Bax also qualified a three-year-old trotting filly for next week’s $100,000 Championship when Featured Image finished second to Malahide in the second Semifinal.

Trainer-driver Wayne Henry piloted Malahide to the 1:57.4 triumph for his partners in the Henry Stable. Featured Image was half a length back in second, and fan favourite Emerald Whisper was one and three-quarter lengths back in third. Trot Your Sox Off recovered from a break at the three-quarters to claim the last spot in the season finale.

Area residents will also be well represented in the three-year-old pacing filly Championship, as Breathdefying, owned by Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, trainer Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of LaSalle and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH, and Whitesand Scarlet, owned by trainer James Crowley of Norwood finished third and fourth in their Semifinal. Just Her Way claimed the winner’s share with a three-quarter length decision over favourite Spun Sugar, stopping the clock at 1:54.

Jason Brewer steered Just Her Way to the win for trainer Rodney Duford and owner-breeder Larry Pollard of Harrow.

The favourites faltered badly in the other pacing filly Semifinal, leaving the door open for the consistent Secret Grin, who effortlessly claimed a two and one-quarter length victory in 1:53.3. Quail Seelster finished second, and Bob McIntosh trainees Magic Maverick, last year’s Grassroots champion, and Playin With Magic rounded out the top four.

Bruce MacDonald trains Secret Grin for Mardon Stables of Loretto, and the Grinfromeartoear daughter has been the model of consistency for the last two years. In 30 starts she has recorded 11 wins and has only missed a cheque on two occasions.

Junior K extended his Grassroots unbeaten streak for four with a gate-to-wire 1:53.2 effort in the first pacing colt split. The Astreos son cruised home one length up on Tymal Cameron, Twin B Impact and Gunsmoke VMW to earn his tenth victory in 15 starts.

Randy Waples engineered Junior K’s latest victory for trainer Keith Waples and his Shady Hill Racing Stable of Guelph.

The second pacing colt Semifinal saw Hes A Lion stalk pacesetter Wholly Louy and sweep by in the stretch to the 1:52.1 victory. Wholly Louy hung on for second, edging out fan favourite The Grin Man and Blatantly Good earned the last spot in the $100,000 Championship.

John Bond trains Hes A Lion for Montana Racing Stable of Mississauga, and Anthony MacDonald piloted the Mach Three colt to his third win of the season Thursday.

Think Gold cruised to his second straight victory, in spite of starting from Post 7, in the first trotting colt Semifinal. Randy Waples once again used front end tactics to earn the Mr Lavec son the four length victory over Keystone Saint, Blaze Of Sonshine and Catch My Korvette.

The striking chestnut colt, owned by Harness The Power Canada of Campbellville, Danny Petsanis, Singhampton, Dino Ruffa of Mississauga and Greg Vidic of Alliston, stopped the clock at 1:56.4. Joe Stutzman trains Think Gold, who now has five wins and three seconds in 16 sophomore starts.

Kens On Lavec picked up the win in the second trotting colt battle, getting by pacesetter and favourite T Js Mr Lavec in the stretch to score the half length victory. Stonebridge Spirit and Theshowisfree rounded out the top four in the 1:56 mile.

Kenneth Sommer of Sheffield, OH bred and owns Kens On Lavec, and Gregg McNair handles training duties on the Mr Lavec colt. Mike Saftic piloted the youngster to his sixth win on Thursday.

Grassroots battles continue at Kawartha Downs this Saturday, as the two-year-olds vye for a berth in their Championships. The top two and three-year-old competitors will return to the Fraserville oval for the $800,000 Grassroots Championship evening on Saturday, Oct. 27.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rkdfth.html