INNISFIL, ON — Bertos Angel laid down the fastest mile in five $24,000 Grassroots divisions at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening to propel herself up the standings and into a post season berth.
The Ken Warkentin daughter got a perfect pocket trip behind Isthatallyagot and then roared by in the stretch to a three-quarter length victory in 1:57.4. Isthatallyagot finished a hard fought second, with long shot Always A Favorite rounding out the top three.
Michael Langdon engineered the victory for trainer Rob Fellows and owners John Wagner of Fairfax, VA and Scott Woogen of Mechanicsville, VA. Heading into Tuesday’s test Bertos Angel was sitting just shy of the cut off for the Grassroots post season, but her victory propelled her up the standings into sixth spot with a total of 116 points. Through 14 sophomore starts the filly boasts a record of three wins, three seconds and one third for earnings of $47,000.
Two other fillies also used Tuesday’s regular season finale to earn a berth in the Semifinal.
Scottish Starlet went gate to wire from Post 5 in the first $24,000 Grassroots division, besting Oaklea Sierra by two and three-quarter lengths and leaving Sooner Than Later five and a half lengths back in third.
The 1:58.1 mile was Scottish Starlet’s second Grassroots win and boosted her point tally to 112, elevating her from twenty-first to eighth in the standings. Scott Coulter piloted the Angus Hall daughter to the win for trainer Mike Keeling and owners P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc. of Cambridge, ON, Charles Armstrong of Brampton, ON and Robert Fasken of Oakville, ON.
In the second division Michael Langdon and Keystone Ballerina also controlled the pace en route to a five length, 1:58.2 score over Northern Gem and Pretty Amigo. Prior to Tuesday’s outing, Keystone Ballerina had made just one other start in the Grassroots program, recording a victory at Grand River Raceway on Sept. 8. Her second victory pushed her point total to 100, good enough for a share of eleventh spotin the standings.
Emma Frieze conditions Keystone Ballerina for Double Or Nothing Stables and Fintec Stables of Hamilton, ON. Through 13 starts this season the Angus Hall daughter has three wins, one second and two thirds for earnings of $44,320.
In the fourth division, R Tonys Girl delivered a gritty effort in what will be her Grassroots swan song. With 70 points earned through one win, one third and one fourth in Grassroots action, she falls 24 points short of the cut of for the Top 16.
The Kadabra filly demonstrated patience and poise, sitting on the shoulder of pacesetter Ruling Class for half the mile and then accelerating down the stretch to a one length win in 1:58. Ruling Class picked up the second-place finisher’s share and Boots N Hearts rounded out the top three. Shane Weber trains R Tonys Girl for owner-breeders Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin of St. Catharines, ON.
The final division saw Taco deliver an upset in her sophomore Grassroots debut as she reeled in fan favourite, and division point leader, Canada Cool in the stretch to post a 1:58.1 victory. Canada Cool was one and one-half lengths back in second, with Carscot Review another length back in third.
Scott Coulter was in the race bike for Taco’s sixth sophomore start, guiding the Amigo Hall miss to victory for trainer Scott Barr and owner Anne Shunock of Dorchester, ON.
The top 16 point earners will now make their way to Western Fair Raceway for their two Grassroots Semifinals on Oct. 16. The top four finisher’s from each Semifinal will return to Western Fair for the $100,000 Grassroots Championship on Oct. 23.
Tuesday’s three-year-old pacing filly contest complete Georgian Downs’ 2010 Ontario Sires Stakes schedule, which saw four new track records established at the Innisfil oval.
For complete results click: Georgian Downs Results — Oct. 5, 2010