DRESDEN, ON — After butting heads with the top fillies in Ontario for the last two months, two-year-old trotting filly Malahide dropped down to the Grassroots on Monday and found quick success in the third of eight $15,000 divisions contested on Dresden Raceway’s matinee program.

Starting from the trailing Post 8 Malahide landed third on the rail in the early going, but trainer Wayne Henry had the Duke Of York daughter pointed toward the front well before the fillies swept by the grandstand for the first time. On top by three lengths at the three-quarter pole Malahide saw a brief challenge from St Lads Diva around the final turn, but easily disposed of the fan favourite in the stretch, sprinting away to a six length triumph in 2:03.2.

St Lads Diva settled for second and Paradox Image was four more lengths back in third.

Wayne Henry trains and drives Malahide for his partners in the Henry Stable of Arthur. Before Monday’s victory the filly’s best finish was a third-place effort in the July 30 Gold Eliminations at Rideau Carleton Raceway. A bargain basement $4,000 acquisition out of last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale, Malahide’s Grassroots victory boosted her season earnings to $22,452 through six starts.

Two races later Dresden fans watched local filly Windsong Diamond earn the runner-up’s share of the purse, finishing one and one-quarter lengths behind winner P C Maple Sugar. Malcolm and Robert MacPhail of Dover Centre share ownership on Windsong Diamond with Paulette and William Loyens of London and the partners are hoping their Striking Sahbra daughter can maintain her standing in the top 16 through the final regular season Grassroots event on Sept. 23 at Flamboro Downs.

P C Maple Sugar was driven to the gate-to-wire victory by Ross Battin for trainer Peter Clements and his daughter Amy Clements of Dobbinton. Monday’s 2:04 victory was the Malabar Maple daughter’s first in just her third lifetime start.

Armbro Exuberant rounded out the top three in Race 7, finishing six and one-quarter lengths behind P C Maple Sugar.

Two other daughters of Malabar Maple also picked up Grassroots trophies at Dresden on Monday. Marta Maple trotted to a 2:05.4 victory in the ninth race for driver, trainer and owner Tom Durand of Puslinch, besting The Beer Fairy and Zorgwijk Hidalgo by seven lengths, and Maple Missy picked up her second straight Grassroots win with a 2:05.2 effort in Race 11.

�Mr. OSS’ Dave Wall piloted Maple Missy to the three length win for trainer Brian Hodgson and owner Carol Campbell of Kingston. Manvers Maple, another daughter of Malabar Maple, finished three lengths back in second and Big Time Catch was 11 and a half lengths behind the winner in third.

The other Grassroots divisions went to Georgia Hall in 2:05.2, Lady Mae C Fert in 2:05.3, Early Renegade in 2:04 and Summer Audit in 2:03.3.

The two-year-old trotting fillies wrap up their Grassroots season on Sept. 23 at Flamboro Downs, with the top 16 point earners returning to the Flamboro oval on Sept. 30 for a pair of Semifinals.

Meanwhile, Dresden Raceway will wrap up its 2006 Ontario Sires Stakes season next Sunday, Sept. 10 when the outstanding two-year-old pacing colts bring their Grassroots speed show to the half-mile oval.

For complete results please go to:

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