FRASERVILLE, ON — Joys Incredible picked up her second victory of the season capturing the fastest of three Trillium Series divisions at Kawartha Downs on Tuesday afternoon.
The two-year-old trotting filly and driver Reg Gassien powered off the gate from Post 3 and were able to control all the fractions, rolling around the five-eighths mile oval in :29.1, :59.3 and 1:30.1. Down the stretch Dream On Bernie mounted a fierce challenge, but Joys Incredible kept a stubborn neck in front to score the 2:01 victory. Favourite Maleficent finished two lengths behind the leaders in third.
George Peters trains Joys Incredible for breeder Len Kordy of Picton and through seven starts the Incredible Abe daughter has posted two wins and one third. Tuesday’s Trillium Series victory stripped more than two seconds off the filly’s personal best effort.
The other two Trillium divisions went to fillies hailing from the Ross Henry barn. In Race 1 heavy favourite Lookit did not disappoint her fans, waltzing to a five and three-quarter length victory in 2:01.3.
Wayne Henry drove the Royal Strength daughter to the win, which saw her post fractions of :30.2, 1:01.2 and 1:31.1. El Elina and Draven rounded out the top three in the $23,461 contest.
The Henry Stable of Arthur shares ownership on Gold Series regular Lookit with Wally Yantz of Bloomingdale and the partners have pocketed $113,910 this season as the filly trotted to four wins, one second and one third in 12 starts. With one Gold Series event left in the regular season Lookit currently sits third in the point standings and is assured of a berth in the $300,000 Super Final on Nov. 13 at Woodbine Racetrack.
While Lookit went off as the heavy favourite, Kawartha Downs fans allowed Kind Gesture to get away from Post 1 as their fourth choice in Race 2. While favourites Northern Bonnet and Taylorlane Bliss skirmished on the front end, Wayne Henry was content to sit with Kind Gesture until the three-quarter pole where he moved the Angus Hall daughter to the outside and shifted gears.
Down the stretch Kind Gesture pulled away to a half length victory over Northern Bonnet and Taylorlane Bliss, stopping the clock in a personal best 2:02.4.
The Henry Stable shares ownership on two-time winner Kind Gesture with Daniel McCann of Parkhill.
The top Grassroots fillies now head for Hiawatha Horse Park on Oct. 28 for a pair of Semifinals, while the Gold Series regulars make their last regular season stop at Western Fair Raceway on Oct. 30 and Nov. 5.
Tuesday afternoon’s Trillium event wrapped up the 2004 Ontario Sires Stakes season at Kawartha Downs, which featured two outstanding Gold Series events, four Grassroots and a pair of Trilliums. The provincial program will be back at the Fraserville oval next spring with a fresh crop of two and three-year-olds eager to make their mark on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit.