BELLEVILLE, ON — Quinte Exhibition Raceway wraps up its 2004 Ontario Sires Stakes season on Monday afternoon with six Grassroots divisions for the talented three-year-old trotting fillies.

One of the most exciting contests of the matinee program is expected to be Race 2, which sees top point earners Sno Doubt About It and Hetties Charm square off with the impressive newcomer to the program, Creme Caramel.

“She’s pretty good in the turns, it’s the opposition that’s the problem,” says Randy Rier with a wry chuckle.

Rier and his brother John Rier of Kitchener own Hetties Charm, who heads into the race off a two week break following a third-place finish in the final of the Dream Of Glory Trot at Hanover Raceway.

“She’s had a week outside actually, in the paddock. So she’s rested and had her blood checked and it’s perfect,” says the Hanover resident. “She seems good.”

After a disappointing ninth-place finish in an elimination of the Canadian Breeders Championship, an event she was second in at two, the Rier’s had Hetties Charm evaluated by their veterinarian and discovered that she was suffering from a few minor aches and pains. Since having her health concerns addressed the Angus Hall daughter has bounced back and delivered two wins and one third in her last three starts.

“We raced her in the Canadian Breeders and weren’t very happy with her performance. She did not race well,” says Rier, who assists his brother with the filly’s training. “We did a little vet work on her and she’s been very good since. So probably that race helped us discover why she hadn’t been racing up to form.

“Since then she’s had two wins and a third in the Dream Of Glory Final, and she was right there and closing.”

Hetties Charm and driver Jim McClure will start from Post 2 in the second race on Monday, while Sno Doubt About It gets Post 3 and Creme Caramel gets Post 6. The advantageous post is the sixth in a string of inside draws for the winner of $150,752, who has started from Post 1 or 2 in six of her last seven starts.

“She’s a very lucky mare. She’s drawn pretty good post positions all year,” says Rier. “As well, she has good gate speed. She’s very good on the gate and very well-mannered on the gate.”

Hetties Charm will attempt to use that early speed to her advantage against the tough competition in Monday’s second race, kicking off the Grassroots program which sees sophomore trotting fillies featured in Races 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.

Quinte Exhibition Raceway’s first race steps in behind the gate at 1:30 pm.