SARNIA, ON — Three-year-old pacing filly Spun Sugar picked up her second straight Grassroots victory with an impressive 1:52.4 mile at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday evening.
The Camluck miss fired straight to the front from Post 5 and rolled through fractions of :27, :56 and 1:23.3 on her way to the two length win over fan favourite Tricky and Goldies Cam.
Allan Cullen piloted Spun Sugar to the win for trainer Ben Wallace and owner Bradley Grant of Milton. Through 17 starts this season the talented young pacer has posted seven wins, one second and one third. Thursday’s win boosted her to the top of the Grassroots standings with a total of 237 points from four wins, one second and one third in the six regular season events.
Whitesand Scarlet also wrapped up her Grassroots season on a high note, cruising to a five length victory in the first $21,446 division. The Million Dollar Cam daughter and driver Jason Brewer stopped the teletimer at 1:54, a new personal best for the winner of $107,983. Spocks Luck edged out Exquisite Alberta for the runner-up’s share.
James Crowley of Norwood owns and trains Whitesand Scarlet, who posted three wins, two seconds and one third in her six Grassroots starts to finish 25 points behind Spun Sugar in the standings.
Long shot Ms Michelle D scored a major upset in the third Grassroots division, surging from last at the halfway marker to a one-half length win in 1:54.3, almost five full seconds faster than her former personal best. The Camluck lass benefited from a hectic early pace that saw Pompous Pleasure hit the opening quarter in :25.4 and fan favourite Magic Maverick reach the half in :54.1 and the three-quarters in 1:24.
Secret Grin delivered a gutsy first over effort to finish second and Quail Seelster rounded out the top three.
Napanee resident Kevin Benn trains Ms Michelle D for his partners Dennis Chadwick and Bannon Stables of Napanee. Thursday’s win was her first in 16 lifetime starts and was enough to propel her into the Grassroots post season.
The other two divisions saw Canadette extend her Grassroots unbeaten streak to three with a 1:53.2 victory, and Breathdefying wrap up her Grassroots season on a perfect two-for-two record with a 1:53.4 triumph.
The top 16 point earners from the six regular season events will now turn their sights toward the Oct. 18 Semifinal round. To advance to the $100,000 Grassroots Championship at Kawartha Downs on Oct. 27, the fillies will need a top four finish in their $30,000 Semifinal.
Hiawatha Horse Park completes its 2007 Ontario Sires Stakes schedule with the final Gold Series event for the exciting two-year-old pacing fillies on Thursday, Oct. 18 and 25.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rsarfth.html