DRESDEN, ON — Sarahs Crown flexed her muscles in the two-year-old trotting filly Grassroots event at Dresden Raceway on Monday afternoon, stopping the clock in 2:04.1 with an impressive wire-to-wire effort.
Willis Jones trains and drives the Wesgate Crown daughter and the duo had no trouble grabbing control of the race from Post 1. They were on top by three lengths at the :29.4 quarter and maintained that margin through a 1:01.3 half and a 1:31.4 three-quarters before coasting home to the one length victory over Designable and I Dream Of Daisy.
David McGurran of Barrie owns Sarahs Crown, acquiring her at last fall’s Canadian Classic Sale for $11,000. In three starts the filly has already returned $16,679, recording two wins and one third-place finish. Her win on Monday moved her up the Grassroots point standings into second spot with a total of 62 points.
Driver Terry Kerr posted a pair of victories in the four Grassroots divisions, making an appearance in the winner’s circle with Shawland Y Two K following the eighth race and Zorgwijk Delmonica after Race 12.
Kerr put Shawland Y Two K on the lead from Post 1, but then allowed two fillies to go by before the halfway marker. When Go Time made a break going by the three-quarters the veteran reinsman and Shawland Y two K moved into second spot and through the stretch the Super Pleasure daughter caught up with Amblar Playgirl to score the neck victory in 2:07.3. Wrap The Rascal, owned and trained by Roger Burtnyk of Bothwell closed well to pick up the third-place finisher’s share of the $22,621 purse.
Shawland Farm Inc. of Ancaster bred and owns Shawland Y Two K, who moved to the top of the division standings with the win. The filly also boasts a runner-up finish in the season opening Grassroots event at Hiawatha Horse Park on July 4.
Kerr was back in front of the enthusiastic holiday Monday crowd with Zorgwijk Delmonica after a 2:07.1 effort in Race 12. The duo sat third for the bulk of the mile before pulling to the outside going by the three-quarter pole and then storming to the front in the stretch, hitting the wire three lengths ahead of Norwell Spice Girl and McClassy.
John Yake trains the Wesgate Crown daughter for Chris Yake of St. Thomas, who purchased her for $7,000 at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale. With her win on Monday the filly paid off her purchase price and put Yake $4,630 in the black.
The other elimination went to Willow Royal in 2:06.3. The Royal Ballad daughter was making her first start in the Grassroots after an unsuccessful bid at the Gold Series on July 6. Trainer William Matlack, Karen Matlack and Douglas Matlack of Essex share ownership on Willow Royal, a $9,500 yearling purchase at the Royal Blue Yearling Sale.
The two-year-old trotting fillies return to Grassroots action on August 21 at Hanover Raceway, while Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Dresden Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 25 with a Trillium event for the outstanding three-year-old pacing fillies.