SARNIA, ON — Strikinresemblance wrapped up the Grassroots regular season with a victory at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday and vaulted to the top of the three-year-old trotting filly standings heading into the Sept. 29 Semifinals.
The Striking Sahbra daughter got a classic come from behind steer from driver Jim McClure to score the 1:59.1 victory, her third in four Grassroots starts. C H Meadow Miss finished three lengths behind Strikinresemblance in the eleventh race and 12 points behind her in the point standings while Windsong Cappucino rounded out the top three.
Trainer Wendell Waples and Sally, Jack and Dale Waples of Hepworth own Strikinresemblance, who has amassed an impressive record of six wins, one second and two thirds in 10 starts for earnings of $51,794 this season.
Taylorlane Crush laid down the fastest mile of the eight $15,000 divisions to earn a berth in the Semifinal round. Last year’s leading reinsman Ross Battin guided the James Ruhl trainee to the 1:58.1 clocking, hitting the wire five lengths ahead of Suzies On A Roll and Vijay Star.
Tara resident Ruhl shares ownership on Taylorlane Crush with Murray Ritchie of Owen Sound. Through three Grassroots starts the Berndt Hanover daughter posted two wins and one third for 112 points to finish in twelfth spot in the sophomore trotting filly standings.
Stonebridge Volare and Orillia Seelster also notched wins on Thursday that will extend their season through the Semifinal round.
Stonebridge Volare, owned by Edward James of Aurora, held a determined nose in front of Vals Empress to eke out a 2:00 victory in the second division. Paul Mackenzie trains and drives the Yankee Paco daughter, who finished the Grassroots season with one win, two seconds and one fifth-place finish in five starts to claim the sixteenth spot in the standings.
Incredibly Elegant rounded out the top three in the fourth race.
Orillia Seelster also earned her way into the post season with a narrow 1:59 victory in Race 6, sticking a head in front of Holyrood and Hastendownthewind at the wire. �Mr. OSS’ Dave Wall, who currently sits second in the Ontario Sires Stakes driver standings, piloted Orillia Seelster to the second win of her season for trainer Rickey Moffat and owners Ming Siu of Richmond, BC and Yves Blouin of London.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Geisha Hall in 1:59.2, Youknowyouwantto in 1:59.4, Oaklea Oaks in 2:00 and Highnmighty in 2:00.1.
The top 16 point earners will now converge on Flamboro Downs on Sept. 29 for a pair of $30,000 Semifinals that will whittle the field down to eight for the $100,000 Championship on Oct. 7.
Hiawatha Horse Park will wrap up its 2006 Ontario Sires Stakes season on Saturday, Sept. 23 with Grassroots action for the exciting two-year-old trotting colts.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rsarfth.html