LONDON, JUNE 16, 2006 — Ontario’s talented three-year-old pacing fillies put on an impressive show at Western Fair Raceway on Friday evening, matching the track record in the fifth of ten $15,000 Grassroots divisions.

Prairie Tracker and Paul Mackenzie added their names to the London oval’s history books in an outstanding race that saw the top three finishers reach the wire within a breath of each other.

Leaving from the difficult Post 7, Mackenzie and Prairie Tracker landed at the back of the pack as Miss World paced to a :28 opening quarter. Heading for the :57.3 half, Mackenzie sent Prairie Tracker up the outside and the Presidential Ball miss muscled her way to the top before the 1:26 three-quarters.

On top by three and a half lengths at the top of the stretch, Prairie Tracker benefited from the short sprint to the wire, hanging for a quarter length decision over fan favourite Tis Astreos. Pacific Yankee, owned by breeder Richard Thompson of London and trainer Darren James McCall of Guelph, earned the third-place finisher’s cheque, just half a length behind the winner.

The 1:56.1 mile matched the three-year-old pacing filly track record held by a trio of talented fillies — Armbro Vanilla, A And Gs Rockette and Stonebridge Celest — and was the first win of the season for Prairie Tracker, who normally calls Alberta home. Edward James of Aurora owns the young pacer, who was making her first start on Ontario soil and her first start under the tutelage of trainer Robert Don Fellows.

Driver Brad Forward also logged a successful evening in Grassroots action on Friday, piloting three fillies to the winner’s circle.

Forward kicked off the evening with a 1:58.2 triumph aboard Laura Mae, carving out all the fractions and cruising home three and a half lengths ahead of the competition. Fortunateness, owned by Anthony Davis of London, and Imagine Freedom rounded out the top three.

Princeton resident Carl Jamieson trains Laura Mae for his partners Dr. Robert Boyce of London, Fred Brayford of Alliston and George Arthur Stable of Rockwood. The win was the Camluck filly’s fourth this season.

Forward was back in front of the London fans after Race 4, using the same front end tactics to earn Mona’s Madison her second win of the year. Barry Bird trains Mona’s Madison for Gerrie Tucker of Montreal, QC, who also bred the Native Born filly.

Favourite Teacher Supreme finished three-quarters of a length back in the 1:57.2 mile, with Rebel’s Fantasy two lengths behind the winner in third.

Rounding out the driving hat trick, Forward teamed Fantasy Jet to a narrow 1:57.3 victory in the ninth race. The Island Fantasy daughter delivered an impressive effort, circling three-wide at the three-quarter pole, to best Rustina and Whistlin Dixie.

William McNeil trains Fantasy Jet for Louis and Joann Willinger of Louisville, KY and Saulsbrook Stables Inc. of Windsor, NS. The win was the filly’s second straight and boosts her 2006 record to two wins and two thirds in four starts.

Alias Seelster, owned by trainer Ray Bunn and his partner Lisa Steward of Denfield, scored her second straight victory with a smart 1:56.4 victory in the second Grassroots division. The other Grassroots winners were Feel The Pulse in 1:57.1, Southwind Madonna in 1:56.2, Mcmacattack in 1:58.2, Galaxy Any Size in 1:58.4 and St Lads Hailaroo in 1:57.

The three-year-old pacing fillies make their third Grassroots start at Georgian Downs on June 27, while Western Fair Raceway plays host to the second Gold Series event for the talented three-year-old trotting fillies next Friday, June 23.

For complete results please go to:

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