HANOVER, ON — Driver Keith Oliver and trainer Bob McIntosh teamed up to win a pair of two-year-old pacing filly Grassroots events at Hanover Raceway on Thursday evening.
Their first victory came in the fifth $24,000 Grassroots division when Snowbird stuck a nose in front at the wire to edge out fan favourite Embassy Seelster. Shesbadtothebone completed the triactor in the 1:56.3 mile.
Thursday’s outing was Snowbird’s first at the Grassroots level and comes on the heels of a series of top five finishes against Gold Series company. McIntosh conditions the daughter of Camluck and Hat Dance Hanover for Lorne and Jean Keller of Exeter.
Three races later Oliver opted for front end tactics with favourite Expresso Yourself, and the Stonebridge Regal daughter sailed home a five and one-half length winner in a personal best 1:56.1. Larjon Laura and Ride Em Cowgirl staged their own race for second and third.
McIntosh bred and owns Expresso Yourself in partnership with Paul Ysebaert of Mooretown. Through six starts the talented youngster has tallied four wins, one second and one third for earnings of $33,330.
In addition to their victories, Oliver and McIntosh combined for two second-place finishes, one fourth and one fifth-place effort.
Driver James MacDonald also posted a Grassroots driving double at Hanover on Thursday. The reinsman scored back to back wins in the first two divisions with Lily Rei and Miss Coco Luck.
Lily Rei made her first visit to the winner’s circle for trainer Jeffrey Gillis of Hillsburgh and his partners Mac Nichol of Burlington and Gerald Stay of Buffalo, NY. The Badlands Hanover filly halted the Hanover teletimer at 1:58.2, getting a neck in front of pacesetter OK Firefly and Pertty Music.
Thursday’s win was also the first for Miss Coco Luck, who is trained by Blake MacIntosh for breeders Dan and Kim Sergeant of Straffordville. The Camluck daughter was an effortless five length winner in 1:58. Favourite Modern Image and Miss Machqueen rounded out the top three.
Foolish Mind was one of the fillies who prevented Oliver and McIntosh from taking home a few additional trophies. The I Am A Fool daughter kept her nose in front at the wire to hold off Pan Luis Obispo in the fourth race. Island Blue made a late break but was still awarded the third-place spoils.
Trainer Sue Marie Gangell of Simcoe and John Devito of Whitestone, NY share ownership of Foolish Mind, who was also a Grassroots winner at Flamboro Downs on Aug. 15.
The fifth race also featured a nail-biting finish as Keystone Maddie battled down the stretch to a neck victory over Upfrontwhosurlady and Prettyndangerous. The fillies stormed under the wire together in 1:58.2.
After two runner-up efforts in Grassroots action, Thursday’s result was Keystone Maddie’s first victory. The Lis Mara daughter is owned by trainer Dan Lagace and his wife Michelle Gagne of Cambridge.
Twilight Seelster powered to the front from Post 1 in the eighth race and, keeping Oliver and Western Empress behind her throughout, stopped the teletimer at 1:56. Western Empress had to settle for second, one and one-quarter lengths behind the winner and just ahead of Nikitas Halo.
Michael Horner crafted the win for trainer Keith McKellar and owner Brad Wilson of Lambton Shores. Through six starts Modern Art daughter Twilight Seelster boasts an impressive record of five wins and $32,700 in earnings.
The last Grassroots trophy was awarded to Racey Miss, who posted a one-quarter length victory in a sharp 1:55.3. The Shanghai Phil daughter held off Burlesque and Senorita Santanna to score her sixth victory in seven starts.
Marcel Barrieau trains and drives the talented youngster for owner-breeders Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc. of Hudson, QC.
The two-year-old pacing fillies make their fifth Grassroots start at Hiawatha Horse Park next Saturday, Sept. 1, while Hanover Raceway wraps up its 2012 Ontario Sires Stakes schedule one week later, Sept. 8, with Grassroots action for the three-year-old trotting fillies.
For complete results please go to Hanover Raceway Results — August 23, 2012