DUNDAS, ON — Vintage Wine toured the Flamboro Downs oval in classic style on Sunday evening to post the quickest mile in seven Grassroots divisions for the two-year-old pacing fillies.
A daughter of Astreos and $260,829 winner Catch A Wish, Vintage Wine eased off the starting gate into fourth place where she and driver Roger Mayotte sat briefly before making a move on the leaders. Gaining control of the race at the half, the pair continued around the Flamboro oval to a one and a half length victory in a smart 1:57.4.
Favourite Monte Carlo Madam stuck with Vintage Wine for second, while Dilinger Bay, owned and trained by Dundas resident Garry Merner, was seven and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Mayotte drives Vintage Wine for trainer Robert Atkin and owner Millar Farms of Newmarket. The talented filly is a third generation product of the Millar’s breeding operation.
Atkin and Millar Farms scored a second victory in the last Grassroots division, when Phil Hudon piloted Irish Eyes to a come-from-behind victory over pacesetter Infamous Dame and favourite Sparkling Angel in 2:00.
Another regally bred lass, Irish Eyes is by Camluck out of the $111,910 winner Miss Outoftowner. The filly’s siblings include $125,166 winner Nevada Smith and $204,872 winner Morocco.
Driver Mark MacDonald also picked up a pair of victories on the Grassroots program. The Cambridge resident piloted Sun N Sand to a 2:00.2 victory in Race 2, hitting the wire one quarter length ahead of Cam Tillis after suffering interference at the top of the stretch. Style, owned by Glengate Farms of Campbellville and George Hempt of Camp Hill, PA rounded out the top three.
Lansdowne resident Mark Steacy trains Sun N Sand for his partners David Reid of Glenburnie and Malcolm Man Son Hing of Nepean. The Astreos daughter was a $7,500 acquisition at the Morrisville Sale last fall, putting her owners $50 in the black after just one start.
MacDonald’s second appearance in the Flamboro winner’s circle came after Race 11 with Pats Fantasy, who put together an impressive front end victory for owners Richie Pat Bonvie Stable Inc. of Lauderdale By The Sea, FL and trainer Michael Russo, Jr.
MacDonald and the Island Fantasy daughter went directly to the front from Post 1 and laid down fractions of :29.4, 1:01.1 and 1:31.1 on their way to a 1:59.4 victory over favourite Highly Charged and Spirit Seelster.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Clara Moon in 1:58, Teacher Supreme in 1:58.4 and Stonehouse Annie in 2:01.
The freshman pacing fillies make their second Grassroots appearance July 23 at Hanover Raceway, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Flamboro Downs on Sunday, Aug. 7 with Gold Eliminations for the talented three-year-old pacing fillies.
For complete results please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rflmdsu.html