ELORA, ON — Taylorlane Bliss overcame Post 8 at Grand River Raceway on Monday evening to score her third Grassroots victory, stopping the clock in 2:05.4.
In rein to regular driver Ross Battin, the Royal Ballad daughter fired directly to the front and never needed to glance back, sailing under the wire four and a quarter lengths ahead of runner-up Allraes Super Girl. Reach Your Goal, owned by Mark Etsell of Hanover, Larry Clements of Listowel and Robert Newton of Walkerton, finished third.
The win improved Taylorlane Bliss’ record to three wins and one second in six starts and cemented her standing atop the two-year-old trotting filly Grassroots leaderboard. Frank O’Reilly of Orton trains the filly for breeder Edwin Taylor of Grand Valley and Dr. Julie Ballinger of Orton.
Also securing a top spot in the division standings was Eager Lois, who trotted to a 2:04.1 triumph in the fourth race. Thirteen lengths behind pacesetter Franysballad at the half, the Eager Seelster daughter sprinted home to a one and one-quarter length win over Just Maggi and Diminutive.
Larry Walker bred, trains and drives Eager Lois for his partner Henri Pouliot of London. The Morriston resident achieved a driving milestone with the win, which put him over $20 million in earnings for his career.
Whispering Girl trotted the fastest of the six Grassroots divisions on Monday, circling the Grand River oval in a sharp 2:03.2. Bjarte Torresdal piloted the Angus Hall daughter for trainer Harald Lunde and owner Tommy Andersson of Gotene, Sweden, sending the filly to the front and keeping his foot firmly on the gas.
Playfull Image finished second and favourite Draven had to settle for the third-place share of the $15,724 Grassroots purse.
Local filly Kind Gesture and driver Wayne Henry wrapped up the evening, capturing the final division in 2:06 for the Henry Stable of Arthur and Daniel McCann of Parkhill. The win was the Angus Hall daughter’s first of the season and moved her within range of a berth in the Grassroots post season. The top 16 point earners from the six regular season events will advance to two Semifinals at Hiawatha Horse Park on Oct. 28.
The Ross Henry trainee beat CS I Ama Star and Pretty In Plaid to the wire by half a length.
The two-year-old trotting fillies wrap up their Grassroots season on Oct. 9 at Sudbury Downs, while the inaugural Ontario Sires Stakes season at the new Grand River Raceway concludes Friday, Oct. 15 with a Grassroots showdown for the talented two-year-old pacing fillies.