Trotting filly delivers impressive win over off track

LONDON, OCT. 12, 2001 – Independent Dame made her second appearance in the Grass Roots on Friday evening and posted the fastest mile of five divisions on a wet night at Western Fair Raceway.

The three-year-old trotting filly and driver Wayne Henry took control of the race early, leading by as much as seven lengths throughout the mile. Sweeping under the wire six lengths ahead of the field Independent Dame stopped the Western Fair teletimer at 2:00 to score her second Grass Roots win of the season and the sixth of her 2001 campaign.

In addition to her Grass Roots successes, the Royal Strength filly has been a fixture in the Gold Series during the last two seasons earning $218,859 for owner and trainer Ross Henry of Arthur.

Sent off as the Western Fair fans’ second choice, behind division leader Balladeer who finished fourth, Independent Dame returned $5.60, $4.60 and $3.00 for the win. Soshima Taka finished second and Armbro Vail, owned by Woodstock’s Doug Millard, held on for third.

Father and son duo Ross and Wayne Henry also teamed up for a wire-to-wire win in the sixth race with C S Brisco Babe. The Brisco Hanover daughter maintained a perfect record in the Grass Roots regular season with the 2:03.2 score over the Western Fair half-mile, which was rated one second slower than normal.

Tasha Valentine, owned by Aftica Stables of Arva, finished one half length back with Kipling Avenue picking up the third-place finisher’s share. Favourite Savion finished fourth.

Alyssa Seelster jumped into the Top 16 with a 2:02.4 triumph in the seventh race. The Balanced Image filly clocked fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:31, holding off a hard charging My Final Answer through the stretch to score the neck victory. Elanas Earl finished third.

John Kopas trains Alyssa Seelster for Alice Kopas of Ilderton, Suvretta Stables of Toronto and George Hempt of Camp Hill, PA.

Locally owned Jeanie Lynn Lee also earned a berth in the post season with a win in the final Grass Roots division. Owned by Duane Hicks of Aylmer, the Machete Lobell filly delivered an impressive come-from-behind effort to score her third win and boost her earnings to $25,877. Helluvacatch and Peek A Boo Penny trotted into second and third-place.

Phoebe Seelster held on for a 2:05.4 victory in a nail biting finish that saw the top five horses cross the wire within one length of each other. Grand Proposal and Royal Alexis finished one half length back in second and third, separated by a whisker. Shortpaid finished one half length behind the winner in fourth and Tyrone Rose rounded out the cavalry charge in fifth.

Paul Mackenzie trains and drives Phoebe Seelster for his partners John Christensen of Scarborough and the estate of Dr. John Munn of Kincardine.

The three-year-old trotting fillies now enjoy a brief rest before the Top 16 line up behind the Hiawatha Horse Park starting gate on Oct. 25 in two Grass Roots Semifinals.

Ontario Sires Stakes return to Western Fair next weekend when the three-year-old pacing colts and two-year-old pacing fillies head to London for their final Grass Roots competition.

FOR MORE CONTACT SANDRA SNYDER AT 519-656-2017 OR smsnyder@sentex.net.

RESULTS (Including Head No., Horse, (Sire), Driver/Trainer, Pay Outs, Race Fractions):

RACE 3 $18,122

3 – Independent Dame (Royal Strength) W. Henry/R. Henry $5.60 $4.60 $3.00
6 – Soshima Taka (Promising Catch) P. Bovay/P. Bovay $8.50 $3.80
4 – Armbro Vail (King Conch) R. McLean, Jr./B. Maxwell $3.70
Owned by Doug Millard, Woodstock.

Mississnippy, owned by Martin Hossack and Alex Hossack, Thamesford, finished seventh.

Exactor 3 – 6: $68.00
Triactor 3 – 6 – 4: $168.10

Race Fractions: :29, :59.1, 1:29 and 2:00

RACE 5 $18,122

2 – Phoebe Seelster (Super Pleasure) P. Mackenzie/P. Mackenzie $5.00 $3.7 $4.00
1 – Grand Proposal (Royal Strength) R. Battin/M. Newman $5.70 $4.60
7 – Royal Alexis (Royal Strength) D. O’Brian/D. O’Brian $4.90

Shortpaid, owned by Ron O’Neill, Cambridge, Martin & Alex Hossack, Thamesford, finished fourth.

Exactor 2 – 1: $55.50
Triactor 2 – 1 – 7: $390.00

Race Fractions: :30.3, 1:03, 1:33.3 and 2:05.4

RACE 6 $17,812

6 – C S Brisco Babe (Brisco Hanover) W. Henry/R. Henry $10.40 $3.60 $3.40
2 – Tasha Valentine (Yentls Image) T. Kerr/D. Creighton $3.50 $3.10
Owned by Aftica Stables, Arva.
5 – Kipling Avenue (Promising Catch) P. Bovay/P. Bovay $4.30

Exactor 6 – 2: $60.30
Triactor 6 – 2 – 5: $449.80

Race Fractions: :29.2, 1:01.3, 1:32.1 and 2:03.2

RACE 7 $18,122

1 – Alyssa Seelster (Balanced Image) W. Gale/J. Kopas $3.30 $3.10 $3.20
Owned by Alice Kopas, Ilderton, Suvretta Stables, Toronto, George Hempt, Camp Hill, PA.
4 – My Final Answer (King Conch) T. Durand/T. Durand $4.70 $3.60
6 – Elanas Earl (Earl) W. Henry/R. Henry $3.60

Lady Carol, owned by Wayne Jackson, Dorchester and Philip Grimster, London, finished fifth. Royal Yonis, owned by James McGillivary, London, finished seventh.

Exactor 1 – 4: $18.80
Triactor 1 – 4 – 6: $115.10

Race Fractions: :29.1, 1:00, 1:31 and 2:02.4

RACE 8 $18,122

3 – Jeanie Lynn Lee (Machete Lobell) R. Coulter/S. Coulter $18.10 $6.90 $4.40
Owned by Duane Hicks, Aylmer.
4 – Helluvacatch (Promising Catch) G. Rayner/W. Langille $10.50 $4.40
1 – Peek A Boo Penny (Royal Ballad) B. Peacock/B. Peacock $3.00

Dell Ridge Savanna, owned by Dave Wall, Komoka, finished fifth.

Exactor 3 – 4: $210.90
Triactor 3 – 4 – 1: $608.70

Race Fractions: :30.3, 1:02, 1:32.2 and 2:04.4