DRESDEN, ON — Youthful Seelster jumped to the top of the three-year-old pacing filly Grassroots standings with a wire-to-wire 1:57.3 victory at Dresden Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

The Island Fantasy daughter and trainer-driver Ross Battin accelerated out from Post 3, fought off challenger Lady Lola at the three-quarters and hit the wire one-quarter length ahead of Moonlit Tori to score their third straight win in the six race series. Lady Lola stayed game to earn the third-place share of the $21,272 purse.

Monkton resident Battin shares ownership on Youthful Seelster with Pauline Patterson of Brussels and Walter Nicholson of Monkton. Through six Grassroots starts the filly recorded three wins, two seconds and one third for a total of 212 points, 12 points ahead of last year’s Grassroots Champion Borderlinegorgious.

Witness to Fame logged the fastest mile of the five Grassroots divisions with a 1:56.4 romp in Race 2. The Apaches Fame daughter and Ray McLean, Jr. carved all the fractions on their way to the two length win over Lucky Kathy and Whitesand Trick. Dresden fans sent local filly Terra Cotta Rascal off as their favourite, but the filly, owned by John Fraleigh of Glencoe, had to settle for a fifth-place cheque Sunday.

Trainer Bud Sinclair of Stratford and Dr. Norman Amos of St. Marys own Witness To Fame, who wrapped up her sophomore campaign with three wins, one second and one third in five Grassroots starts for a total of 187 points.

JM Lucky Girl also recorded her third Grassroots win at Dresden, touring the half-mile oval in 1:58.1 for McCarthy Family Farms Ltd. of Granton, James Kelly of Ilderton and Max Bilyea of Granton. Ray Bunn trains the Camluck miss, and regular reinsman Michael Sumner was in the race bike for Sunday’s triumph. Pauline Seelster and Curious Cutie rounded out the top three in Race 6.

Stonebridge Celest delivered an impressive come-from-behind effort to claim victory in the fourth division. Leaving from Post 7, the Camluck daughter and Allan Cullen sat in the middle of the pack for much of the mile before sprinting down the stretch to claim a three length victory over pacesetter Landfair Visa and St Lad’s Pathfinder in 1:57.2.

Clarence Beitz of Mildmay owns Stonebridge Celest, who vaulted into the Top 16 with the victory.

The last Grassroots division of Dresden Raceway’s 2005 season went to Lasensa, who catapulted to the front from Post 7 and sailed home a half length winner in 1:58.1. Hollyhock picked up the runner-up’s share and Just Rich Enough was another length back in third.

Greg Dustin piloted Lasensa to the win, her second in the Grassroots program, for trainer Jason Libby and owners Allan and John Lockie of Zephyr. Like the other four winners, the Astreos filly will compete in the Oct. 7 Grassroots Semifinals at Georgian Downs.

Once again Dresden Raceway fans were treated to an outstanding season of racing by the Ontario Sires Stakes stars, including track record performances by three-year-old pacing colts Must Be Matt and Caviarandsoftmusic. A fresh crop of talented young trotters and pacers will be back at the popular half-mile oval in 2006 for another season of provincial action.

For complete results please go to:

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