INNISFIL, ON — Mario Baillargeon piloted Witchery’s Dream to the fastest of five Grassroots divisions for two-year-old trotting fillies at Georgian Downs on Tuesday evening.

In his first tour aboard the Angus Hall miss, Baillargeon sent her straight to the front from Post 3 and ticked off fractions of :31, 1:02.2 and 1:34.2. Heading down the stretch Witchery’s Dream fought off a challenge from Windsong Destiny and Wayne Henry to post the half length victory in 2:04.3. Jodys Tracey trotted under the wire six lengths back in third.

Mark Steacy trains Witchery’s Dream, a $14,000 yearling from the Lexington Select Sale, for Claude Baril of Mascouche, QC and Richard Karper of Saint-Laurent, QC.

While he did not have any luck against Witchery’s Dream, Wayne Henry took home a pair of Grassroots trophies on Tuesday evening. The Arthur resident teamed up with his brother Trevor Henry for victories with H S Gingersnap in Race 6 and Odee Tijana in Race 10.

Driver Trevor Henry opted for front end techniques from Post 2 with H S Gingersnap and the Fiesty G G daughter cruised around the Georgian Downs oval to a six length triumph in 2:05.4. Favourite Manvers Maple had to settle for second, edging out third-place finisher Windsong Diamond.

Wayne Henry trains H S Gingersnap for his partners in the Henry Stable of Arthur and Daniel McCann of Parkhill. The filly was a runner-up in the June 24 Trillium Series season opener at Sudbury Downs and boasts earnings of $16,014 in just two starts.

In the tenth race Trevor Henry and Odee Tijana sat well back in third as fan favourite Big Time Catch rocked through early fractions of :30.4 and 1:02.4. As the pacesetter swung by the 1:35.2 three-quarters, Henry and Odee Tijana were making a move on the outside and had they had pulled away to a quarter by lead at the top of the stretch. Bio Stingray and Quick Sight made late runs at Odee Tijana, but the Royal Strength daughter persevered to score the half length victory in 2:08.1.

Like her stablemate H S Gingersnap, Odee Tijana was a runner-up in the June 24 Trillium Series and now has one win and one second in two starts for owner and breeder Virginia Odorico of Limehouse.

The other two Grassroots divisions went to Heads Up Play, who trotted to a 2:05.3 score for trainer Larry Walker of Morriston and his partners Wayne Murakami of Hamilton and Robert Fasken of Oakville, and Fiona Kemp, who delivered a strong 2:04.4 performance for Karma Racing Stable of Boynton Beach, FL.

The two-year-old trotting fillies will make their second Grassroots start on July 19 at Hanover Raceway, while the three-year-old trotting fillies head into Georgian Downs next Tuesday, July 11 for their Trillium Series season opener.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgeodftu.html