INNISFIL, ON — Anthony MacDonald almost doubled his Ontario Sires Stakes win column with a prolific evening of driving at Georgian Downs on Tuesday.
The Guelph resident had mounts in all eight sophomore trotting filly Grassroots divisions and posted victories in half. In the other four he earned one second, two thirds and one eighth, teaming his mounts to total earnings of $59,760.
MacDonald’s first trip to the Georgian Downs winner’s circle came as the result of another reinsman’s misfortune, as My Whispering Eye was placed back from first to third for causing interference in the stretch. Although she reached the finish line three-quarters of a length behind My Whispering Eye, Tropical Breeze AS was promoted to first and MacDonald guided her to the winner’s enclosure.
Some Like It Hot, who suffered the interference, finished third, but was advanced to second, leaving My Whispering Eye to settle for the third-place share of the $24,000 Grassroots purse.
Anette Lorentzon conditions Tropical Breeze AS for her family’s ACL Stuteri AB of Paris, KY. Through seven starts this season the Striking Sahbra miss has tallied two wins, one second and one third. Tuesday’s 1:57.4 effort was a new personal best for Tropical Breeze AS and also earned the filly her first Grassroots trophy of the season.
In the seventh race MacDonald’s mount Ka Jean needed no help getting to the winner’s circle, rolling across the finish a full five lengths ahead of Out Of The Kitchen and Last Chance Babie.
Tuesday’s outing was Ka Jean’s first appearance in the Grassroots program, and her 1:58.3 clocking was also a personal best. Through 10 sophomore starts the Kadabra daughter has amassed three wins and three seconds, with Tuesday’s victory boosting her earnings to $23,100. Paul Reid trains Ka Jean for lessee Robert Key of Leechburg, PA.
MacDonald urged Ms Canada Kadabra to a neck victory in the ninth race, eking out his third photo op of the evening. The John Drennan trainee battled with early pacesetter Surveillance down the stretch to secure the 1:57.1 victory. Cook Off was eight lengths behind the dueling leaders in third.
Ms Canada Kadabra solidified her position among the top 16 point earners with the win, her second in Grassroots action this season. DDT Stable of Burlington owns the Kadabra daughter, who has a record of four wins, three seconds and one third through 12 starts this season for earnings of $44,486.
Another Paul Reid trainee provided MacDonald with his final ride to the winner’s circle. Angel Warken dug hard in the stretch to hold off Marys Out Cruisin and Feisty Love and earn her second straight win at the Innisfil oval. The Ken Warkentin miss also captured an overnight event at Georgian Downs on Aug. 2.
Angel Warken, bred and owned by Leechburg, PA resident Robert Key, stopped the teletimer at 1:57.4.
The fastest mile of the evening saw Extraordinaire deliver an outstanding front end effort from the outside Post 9, reaching the wire in a personal best 1:56.1. Trainer-driver Wayne Henry engineered the impressive mile for his partners in the Henry Stable of Arthur and Kaye Laverty of Sauble Beach.
Magical Paige finished second and MacDonald picked up one of his third-place results with Honey Thorn.
Extraordinaire is a perfect three for three in Grassroots action this season, after struggling to find her footing among the province’s top tier fillies. The Duke Of York lass was a two-time Gold Final winner as a two-year-old, and kicked off her sophomore season with a win in her May 20 Gold Elimination at Western Fair Raceway, but failed to crack the top three in the May 27 Gold Final, her June 3 Casual Breeze division at Mohawk Racetrack or her Canadian Breeders Championship elimination at Mohawk on July 15.
Anthony MacDonald’s other third-place result came in the first $24,000 Grassroots division when Wendy Woo fought off B Cor Janett and his mount Stage Fright to score a head victory in 1:57.4.
Thornton resident Stephen Byron piloted Ken Warkentin lass Wendy Woo to her first lifetime victory for trainer Shane Weber and owner-breeders Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines.
Zorgwijk Locket posted a 1:58.2 victory in the second split for driver Dan Clements, besting favourite Zorgwijk Lunar and division point leader Harlow Seelster. MacDonald finished well back of the leaders with Frances Fancy, who made an early break and was never part of the action.
Ronnie MacLean trains former Gold Series competitor Zorgwijk Locket for Arthur Slack and Ted Smith of Rockwood and Brian Paquet of Quebec, QC. Through 10 starts the Striking Sahbra filly now has two wins and two thirds for earnings of $37,400.
Barbies Korvett took home the other Grassroots trophy, with MacDonald and Abbeycrest hot on her heels in second and favourite Mutinys Child two and a half lengths back in third.
Jim McClure crafted the 2:00.1 victory for owner and trainer James MacLeod of Seaforth, who also bred the daughter of Korvette Hanover and Photo Perfect.
The three-year-old trotting fillies make the second last stop on their Grassroots tour at Grand River Raceway Sept. 2. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Georgian Downs this Saturday, Aug. 13 with Grassroots action for the exciting two-year-old pacing fillies.
Also generating excitement in the grandstand on Tuesday evening was the Ontario Sires Stakes program’s Win The Thrill contest, which saw eight more finalists earn a shot at the Grand Prize — a share in the Standardbred Breeders of Ontario Association’s (SBOA) New Owner Mentoring Program. Pat Byers of Barrie; Bob Byers of Barrie; Janice St. Amand of Penetang; Nancy Shortt of Midland; Dave Richard of Alliston; Linda Wasmer of Scarborough; Darryl Roote of Kitchener and Ted Elstone of Barrie all have an opportunity to drop a ballot into the Grand Prize draw during the Oct. 1 Grassroots Championships at Mohawk Racetrack.
The next chance for fans to get in on the exciting Win The Thrill promotion comes during this Saturday’s Grassroots event. More information about the �Win The Thrill’ contest and the SBOA New Owners Mentoring program is available at www.ontariosiresstakes.com and www.standardbredbreeders.com. Ballots and details are available in the official Georgian Downs program.
For complete results please go to: Georgian Downs Results — Aug. 9, 2011