BELLEVILLE, ON — Terry Fritz guided two-year-old pacing filly Luck Out to victory in the fastest of five Grassroots events on Quinte Exhibition Raceway’s Civic Holiday Monday program.

Fritz sent the lightly rated filly straight to the front from Post 3 and churned out fractions of :30.4, 1:02.4 and 1:32.4 before being challenged by fan favourite Eatonmeadow Philly. As the pair turned for home only one half length separated them, but Luck Out surprised her peers by digging in down the stretch and collaring the quarter length victory in 2:03.

My Zoomer Girl claimed second-place honours in the $20,861 contest, while Eatonmeadow Philly’s trip around the outside took its toll in the final strides and left her settling for third, four lengths behind the leaders.

Gregg McNair trains Luck Out for breeder Larry Pollard of Harrow. Through three Grassroots starts the Camluck miss has accumulated one win and two fourths, for earnings of $12,838 and 66 points in the race for a berth in the season ending Grassroots Semifinal.

Quinte fans were treated to a full afternoon of nail biting finishes as all five Grassroots races were won by half a length or less. Rebels Fantasy kicked off the thrill show with a half length win in the first division that saw her overcome interference at the halfway marker when leader and fan favourite Pats Fantasy made a break that forced the rest of the field to do some fancy footwork to get around her.

In rein to Allan Nichols, Rebels Fantasy prevailed over Rustina to claim the 2:05.2 victory while Luxury Seelster was well back in third. The Island Fantasy daughter was making her first lifetime start for trainer Kirk Thomas and owner Paul Jackson of Bobcaygeon.

In Race 4 pacesetter Jason Brewer and Bossladymaamsir hung on determinedly through the final strides to earn a nose decision over favourite Easy Prey. Dan Creighton trains the Northern Luck daughter for his partners in the Danterra Racing Stable of Strathroy and Ross Holmes of Ilderton. The partners acquired the sister to $362,054 winner Niarun and $139,439 winner Lucky N for $14,000 at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale and have deposited $16,680 on her behalf through two wins and one second in her first three starts.

Getrichordietrying finished three lengths behind Bossladymaamsir and Easy Prey in third.

One race later veteran reinsman Gord Brown and Magnifcentbaroness came from well off the pace to score a half length win over Willowwood Mist and favourite Stonehouse Annie in 2:05. Philip Coole trains the daughter of Rambaran for owner Sandra Monk of Mississauga.

The other Grassroots division went to trainer-driver Murray Brethour and Vals Joanie, who led through all stations and hung on down the stretch for the quarter length victory in 2:03.1. Favourite Clara Moon was relegated to second for the second straight week and Ain’t She Tweet rounded out the top three.

Brethour trains Vals Joanie for breeder Grace Brethour of Sunderland and Paul Lindsey of Fergus. After three Grassroots starts the Presidential Ball daughter has a record of one win, one second and one fifth for a total of 80 Grassroots points.

Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing fillies are back in Grassroots action Aug. 23 at Georgian Downs, while the Ontario Sires Stakes program makes its final stop at Quinte Exhibition Raceway on Friday, Sept. 9 with Grassroots action for the two-year-old trotting colts.

For complete Grassroots results please go to:

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