INNISFIL, ON — Georgian Downs fans were treated to an outstanding evening of racing Saturday as Ontario’s top three-year-olds squared off in four $100,000 Grassroots Championships.
In the first season finale the trotting fillies crammed a speed show, a tight finish and an upset into their two minutes of fame, and when the dust settled it was longshot Lexus Lulu who walked away with the Ontario Sires Stakes hardware.
“I wasn’t sure we won it,” said owner-trainer Norm Dunstan from the winner’s circle. “The last fraction wasn’t anything terrific, but it’s where she finished.”
Starting from Post 8 Lexus Lulu and driver John Kovacs landed in fifth spot through the early going and watched in amazement as Sno Doubt About It reeled off opening fractions of :27.2 and :56.3 while holding favourite Raising The Bar on the outside.
Heading for the 1:27.4 three-quarters Kovacs was able to squeeze Lexus Lulu out behind Raising The Bar and then out sprint her to the 2:01.2 victory in deep stretch. French Brocade closed hard to finish third, less than one length behind Lexus Lulu.
“I tried to get away as best I could. I saw the best I was going to get away was fifth, so I had to settle for that,” said Kovacs. “I was a little concerned because all the horses going a half in 56 seconds is a pretty big thing, so I didn’t know if I was going to have any steam, either. But I was sure as heck happy to get right behind Tom Durand’s filly (Raising The Bar).”
The win was Lexus Lulu’s third of the season and pushed her lifetime earnings to $130,577 for Inglewood resident Dunstan.
Two races later local reinsman Stephen Byron piloted trotting colt Mr Bitter to a commanding 1:59 victory, his third straight over the Georgian Downs oval.
“I just wanted to give him a good chance,” said Thornton resident Byron. “He raced really big. He’s been at his best right now and he’s getting better.”
Byron engineered the one and one-quarter length triumph over Schemin N Dreamin and Fast Johnny for trainer Alan Fair of Ancaster and his wife Cloah who bred and own the Wesgate Crown son.
“He’s been a nice little colt. He’s a full-brother to that Memories Of Texas ($180,225),” said Fair. “We’re really happy with him. He’s come along well this last little while.”
Fan favourite Mr Bitter captured seven of 20 starts this season for earnings of $107,780.
The heavy favourite in the pacing filly Final also got the job done as Illusionist and driver Jody Jamieson overcame a tough trip around the outside to score a 1:54.3 victory.
“She is a super filly,” said Jamieson. “I figured she was the best here and she showed it, going that kind of mile, and the way she did it.”
Leaving from Post 7 Jamieson found himself being pushed to the outside by Randy Fritz and Village Blush as they paced through fractions of :27.3 and :56.1. Heading for the 1:24.3 three-quarters Illusionist edged to the front and Jamieson urged her to the three-quarter length win over hard closing duo Sentbytheangels and Keltic Sarah.
“I tried to move her to the front there when (Randy) Fritz cleared. I thought I could get around him fairly easily because he got stung pretty good,” said Jamieson. “But I think he looked over and he saw me chasing (Illusionist) and he figured he wasn’t going to choke his to let me go.
“I never chirped to her once up the backside and she went by, but I started yelling at her pretty good around the last turn. She was getting pretty tired. The wind is blowing. That’s a big mile today.”
Jamieson drove the filly to her thirteenth victory of the season for his father Carl Jamieson, who trains the Camluck daughter, and owners John Dragojevic of Nobleton and David Lumsden of Thornhill.
Wrapping up the sophomore Grassroots season were the talented three-year-old pacing colts and Northern Raucous and driver Tony Kerwood took full advantage of Post 1 to snatch up the Championship honours.
“This horse has extreme gait speed, so I just left out of there strong and one horse cut across in front of me and then backed up a little bit,” said Kerwood. “As soon as he backed up I figured we’ll make our move. Jay (Cochlin) had him really good tonight. He was super.”
Jay Cochlin trained Northern Raucous to seven wins, four seconds and five thirds in 24 starts this season for Capital A Investments Ltd. of Lower Cambridge, NB. Saturday’s victory over Island Zeeker and Bootilicious pushed the Northern Luck colt’s lifetime earnings over $135,000.
“He’s been feeling really good all week,” said Cochlin. “He raced pretty well last week, got locked in, but Tony got him out and he finished strong. Tony gave him a great drive tonight. He’s a nice horse.”
With the three-year-old honours all doled out, Ontario Sires Stakes fans will now turn their attention to Hiawatha Horse Park next Saturday where the two-year-old trotters and pacers will battle in their season ending Championships.