DUNDAS, ON — Three-year-old trotting filly Emmamazing makes her second Grassroots start next Wednesday, Aug. 30 at Flamboro Downs and trainer Don LeBlanc is hoping the quirky youngster can finally find her way into the winner’s circle.

“I would look for her to race well, ” says the Burlington resident. “I think she’s due for a win; we are hoping anyway.”

Unraced at two, Emmamazing started her career with one second and two third-place finishes in overnight action at Woodbine Racetrack. She made her Ontario Sires Stakes debut in the Gold Eliminations at Western Fair Raceway on June 23 and finished fifth from the trailing Post 8. A fourth-place finish in another overnight event at Mohawk Racetrack followed and then the Mr Lavec daughter picked up a runner-up cheque in the July 11 Trillium Series at Georgian Downs, finishing just three-quarters of a length behind Gold Series regular Oaklea Odessa.

That strong effort earned Emmamazing a trip to the July 21 Canadian Breeders Championship Eliminations at Mohawk, but she made a late break and finished ninth. A second break in the Canadian Breeders consolation forced the half-sister to $556,062 winner Kingdom to requalify and caused LeBlanc to rethink his early season strategy. Rather than going back to the Gold Series, he dropped the filly into the Grassroots for the Aug. 15 event at Georgian Downs.

Unfortunately, Emmamazing made another break and finished fifth in the 2:01.1 mile, so LeBlanc sent her to veterinarian Dan McMaster for a thorough examination in an effort to discover what was causing the uncharacteristic breaks in stride.

“We had some vet work done on her and then Trevor (Ritchie) qualified her and he seemed to think she was much better,” notes LeBlanc, who shares ownership on the filly with Wayne Moriarity of Burlington, Kevin Perry of Bolton and Raymond Perry of Waterdown.

Emmamazing will make her second run at a Grassroots trophy from Post 9 in the eleventh race on Wednesday and LeBlanc expects the filly to be much more settled from the trailing post than she was at Western Fair two months ago.

“She didn’t like it at London. Trevor (Ritchie) said she didn’t know quite what to do,” says the trainer. “But she’s had a few more starts now, so I think she’ll be better.”

Jody Jamieson will make his third appearance in the race bike behind Emmamazing on Wednesday. The Dundas resident piloted the filly to her runner-up performance in the Trillium Series at Georgian Downs and is familiar with her cantankerous temperament.

“She kicks,” explains LeBlanc. “She’s not a very friendly horse.”

One thing Emmamazing does like is bananas. LeBlanc says the quirky youngster eats about six bananas each day and that they are as good an indicator of her health and happiness as the more traditional thermometer.

“She eats half a dozen bananas a day,” he says. “When she’s feeling good she’ll swallow the whole banana in one shot, and when she’s not feeling good she’ll take a couple of bites.”

LeBlanc and his partners are hoping Wednesday is a whole banana day as Emmamazing tackles a field of eight that includes former Grassroots division winner Fancy N Diamonds from Post 6 and the consistent Taylorlane Crush from Post 4.

Post time at Flamboro Downs on Wednesday is 4 pm and the three-year-old trotting fillies will compete for a total of $120,000 in eight Grassroots divisions, slated as Races 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/eflmdwe.html