INNISFIL, ON — Keith Jones had an outstanding evening at Georgian Downs on Saturday with sibling trotters Ima Sweetie Too and Abbey Road C. The Midhurst resident piloted Ima Sweetie Too to a 2:01.3 victory in the first of four Trillium Series divisions and returned to the winner’s circle with Abbey Road C after capturing the second elimination for the Honourable Earl Rowe Memorial Trot in 1:55.2, just one-fifth of a second off the all-age track record.
Leaving from Post 4 with two-year-old trotting filly Ima Sweetie Too, Jones opted to challenge for the lead just after the :29.2 opening quarter and had established a five length lead on the field before the :59.2 half. As the fillies swept by the 1:29.1 three-quarters and turned for home Ima Sweetie Too still maintained a healthy lead and although the Super Pleasure daughter tired through the stretch favourite Crimmings could get no closer than a quarter length with Yoko Hanover more than four lengths back in third.
The win was the first of the season for Ima Sweetie Too, who has two seconds and one third to go along with it. Midhurst resident Jones owns and trains the filly, who boosted her freshman earnings to $26,986 with the win.
Jones capped off his evening with the Earl Rowe Elimination win aboard former Ontario Sires Stakes heavyweight Abbey Road C. The Incredible Abe colt simply commanded the race from start to finish, rolling across the finish seven lengths ahead of the competition in 1:55.2.
Georgian Downs fans were treated to a track record performance in the third Trillium Series division when Blossom Seelster embarrassed the competition with a 24 length victory in 2:00.4, taking one-fifth of a second off the two-year-old trotting filly standard established by Designable last season.
Trained and driven by Mark Etsell, Blossom Seelster powered to the front past the quarter pole and proceeded to pull away from the field with every stride, reaching the wire five seconds before the rest of the field. Sno Doubt About It and Victory Bouquet recovered from early breaks to pick up second and third-place honours in the $18,456 contest.
Etsell, who resides in Hanover, Robert Newton of Walkerton, Larry Clements of Listowel and Chuan Tan of Cambridge share ownership on Tagliabue daughter Blossom Seelster, who has logged three wins in five starts and $35,017 competing primarily south of the border.
Steve Byron piloted Balanced Image miss Yankee Dakota to a 2:03.2 victory in the second Trillium division, opting to shadow pacesetter Hetties Charm through the mile and then power by in the stretch to the two and half length victory for trainer John Bax of Peterborough, Bob Anderson of St. Thomas and David Willmot of King City. Hetties Charm stayed game for second and Incredible Mother rounded out the top three.
The final Trillium split went to D Js Magic and Ross Battin in a 2:03.4 come-from-behind effort. It was the second straight win for the Mr Lavec daughter, bred and owned by Mike Joyce of London and trained by Gary Payne. Zorgwijk Empress and Elouera also trotted past tiring pacesetter Shez Mine to earn second and third-place cheques.
The freshman trotting fillies have one Trillium event remaining on their 2003 schedule, Oct. 18 at Kawartha Downs. Before that the Grassroots fillies will compete in their final regular season event at Windsor Raceway on Oct. 12, while the Gold Series fillies wrap up their season one week later (Oct. 24) at Mohawk Racetrack.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Georgian Downs on Tuesday, Oct. 14 with the talented three-year-old trotting colts in their last regular season Grassroots battle.