DRESDEN, ON — When the two-year-old trotting fillies square off in their fourth Grassroots event at Dresden Raceway on Monday afternoon, owner John Cowan would like to see all eight starters in the eleventh race take their eyes off the $15,000 purse.

“I think if everybody drove a trotter like it was a qualifying race, we’d have better two-year-olds,” says the Brigden resident. “I think a lot of the time when horses take that bad step it’s because they see the money. That’s what I told Darryl (Laver), just qualify her, don’t worry about the money.”

Cowan’s Spare Time Rozie and trainer-driver Darryl Laver will start from Post 2 in the eleventh race and Cowan would love to see the filly deliver a flawless trip in her third Grassroots start. The Earl daughter made a break in the early stages of her July 31 Grassroots debut at Sudbury Downs and went off stride turning for home on the lead in her Aug. 28 outing at Clinton Raceway.

“Nothing seems to scare her, yet she’s been putting in breaks,” says Cowan, who bred and owns the filly. “Maybe just going too fast for a two-year-old.”

Cowan and Laver shared the responsibility of teaching Spare Time Rozie her early lessons and the long time horseman says the filly was a treat to break and has developed into a remarkably nice horse to work around.

“She was very sensible. I wish they were all that smart,” he recalls. “Now you could send her out on the track with a 10 year old and let a 12 year old do her feet. She hasn’t got a bad act about her. She’s a real nice little filly.”

With just three starts under her belt, Cowan expects Spare Time Rozie to improve as she gains racing experience and jokes that she has already overcome two significant handicaps.

“She’s doing well considering her trainer and owner,” says Cowan with a chuckle. “She’s green, but she’s got a bit of speed. Hopefully she’ll make some money. We’re quite happy with her.”

Both men work full time in addition to breaking and training the Spare Time horses, and while Cowan notes that they are both amateurs he is quick to praise the work Laver has done with Spare Time Rozie.

“I think Darryl has done a fine job, whatever he’s done with her. I’m happy,” he says. “And he’s not a bad driver. Put him up on a bunch of horses five nights a week and he’s (Chris) Christoforou.”

Laver and Spare Time Rozie face a tough field of Grassroots veterans in the eleventh race on Monday, including two fillies currently ranked in the top 16 and two hovering just below the current cut off of 50 points.

Post time for Dresden Raceway’s exciting Labour Day Monday program is 1 pm, with the two-year-old trotting fillies highlighted in Races 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 13.

For a complete list of entries please go to:

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