SUDBURY, ON — Mystical Dawn delivered the fastest victory in six Grassroots events at Sudbury Downs on Saturday evening and jumped into fourth spot in the three-year-old pacing filly division standings.
The Bo Knows Jate daughter and driver Stephane Pouliot controlled the race from start to finish, leading the field by up to eight lengths throughout the mile and cruising under the wire five lengths on top in 1:57.2. Operetta Sunrise and Oaks Minnie Rocket closed well to earn the second and third-place finisher’s share of the $18,811 purse.
Benoit Baillargeon trains Mystical Dawn for Mario Baillargeon of Milton and Whitesand Valley Stables Inc. of Schomberg. The win boosted the filly’s 2003 record to three wins and two seconds in 11 starts.
Espirit Seelster leapt to the top of the division standings with a front end victory in the final Grassroots division. The Camluck lass and driver Michael Sumner also used a front end strategy to score the 1:59 win over Magnify This and Rocket Envy, who were four and eight lengths to the rear.
Trained by Ray Bunn for McCarthy Family Farms Ltd. of Granton, Espirit Seelster has been a solid competitor in Grassroots and Trillium Series action this season. Saturday’s victory improved her Grassroots record to two wins, one second and one third in four starts for 137 points.
Feathery Fame derailed Tribute To Heroes’ and Hot Shot Rocket’s efforts to remain atop the point standings when she delivered an impressive effort in Race 11 to score a six length victory.
Taking advantage of the Grassroots wild card, the Gold Series regular and driver Stuart Sowerby wrestled control from Hot Shot Rocket just past the halfway marker and then cruised home under wraps to a 1:58.3 triumph. Tribute To Heroes stayed game for second and Dilemma was well back in third, while Hot Shot Rocket faded to seventh.
Gwendolyn McNair of Walkerton bred and owns $100,296 winner Feathery Fame, entrusting the Apaches Fame daughter’s day-to-day care to son Gregg McNair. Last year’s champion Wendys Rocket scored her first win of the season in the opening division, stopping the clock at 2:01 for trainer-driver William “Bud” Fritz and owner Bloomingwood Farms of Harriston. Shes So Lucky and Sheiladawnkillean rounded out the top three.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Shami Cam in 1:57.4 and Lucky Irma in 2:00. The sophomore pacing fillies will square off in their fifth Grassroots event on Sept. 28 at Clinton Raceway.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement is back at Sudbury Downs next Saturday, Sept. 6 when the two-year-old pacing colts bring their high speed show to town for the Grassroots wild card.