MILTON, September 21, 2023 – Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) two-year-olds took centre stage at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the Grassroots Semi-Finals.
Each Semi-Final has a purse of $20,000, beginning with two-year-old trotting fillies in race one, and ending with three-year-old pacing colts and geldings in race ten, for a total of eight races.
Grassroots Semi-Final: Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
P L Rachel (Muscle Mass) won the first Semi-Finals of the night for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Sylvain Filion and P L Rachel sat off the pace set by leader Her Currency (The Bank) and then in deep stretch came flying home for a photo finish win in a time of 1:57.
Her Currency driven by Bob McClure finished in second while Tea Lake (Kadabra) piloted by Richard Zeron rounded out the podium.
“As soon as she hit the stretch she just flew home,” said Filion. “But I have to give credit to Matt, he did some vet work on her after the last race, and she was much better tonight.”
Matthew Dupuis is both the trainer and owner of the Muscle Mass filly who has made $25,190 over the course of her career.
Her win paid $7.50.
In race three, the second Semi-Finals for two-year-old trotting fillies, Flirty Dancer (Lookslikeachpndale) took the win in a time of 1:57.1 with driver Scott Young.
Abikadabra (Kadabra) and driver McClure came in second and Birthday Money (Resolve) driven by Matthew Bax finished in third.
Flirty Dancer has made $55,756 over the course of her career for co-owners Brian Kleinberg, Richard Beinhauer, and Paul Reid.
Reid is also the trainer of the Lookslikeachpndale filly.
Favourite Flirty Dancer’s win paid $3.10.
Flirty Dancer (New Image Media).
Grassroots Semi-Final: Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
In race four, Greatest Pleasure (Bettors Delight) won the first of two divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies.
Louis-Philippe Roy kept Greatest Pleasure off the pace and in third before rallying from behind to cross the wire first at 1:52.3.
All three Bettors Delight fillies completed the podium with Pasta Delight in second and Make Out With Me in third.
Greatest Pleasure is trained by Luc Blais and has made $45,572 over the course of her career for owner Determination (Montreal, Que.).
She paid $7.80 for the win.
Greatest Pleasure (New Image Media).
The second Semi-Finals of the night for two-year-old pacing fillies was race six on the card, and Betterwithglasses (Betterthancheddar) piloted by Trevor Henry came away with the win in a time of 1:52.2.
Bonitas Best Bet (All Bets Off) and driver Roy finish in second while Cheese Party (Betterthancheddar) and driver Austin Sorrie finish in third.
Betterwithglasses is trained by Victor Puddy who is co-owner with Michael Horwood, Lloyd Stone, and 10462217 Canada Inc.
Over the course of her career, Betterwithglasses has made $44,739.
Her upset win paid $16.20.
Betterwithglasses (New Image Media).
Grassroots Semi-Final: Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings
The first Semi-Finals for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings was race five on the card, and Salem Seelster (Muscle Mass) driven by Roy came away with the win by crossing the wire at 1:56.
Favourite Salem Seelster challenged leader Ways N Means (Muscle Mass) and Paul MacDonell late in deep stretch for another photo finish win at the wire.
R No Mercy (Alarm Detector) rounded out the top three driven by Travis Cullen.
The first-place finish for Salem Seelster set a new career best and has made $22,140 over the course of his career for owner Determination (Montreal, Que.).
The Muscle Mass colt is trained by Luc Blais and paid $3.50 for the win.
In race seven, Nzuri (Muscle Mass) won the second division for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Nzuri, driven by Henry, sat at the back of the field before and made a move in the far turn to take the lead.
He was challenged in deep stretch by Northernchancellor (Muscle Mass) and driver Sorrie, but Nzuri proved too strong, crossing the wire at 1:57.2.
Brutalizer (Alarm Detector) rounded out the top three driven by Filion.
Nzuri is trained by Paul Walker who is co-owners with Julie Walker and Rodney Foulds.
The Muscle Mass colt has made $41,172 over the course of his career and paid $2.60 for the win.
Grassroots Semi-Final: Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings
Like A Glove (Mcwicked) won the first of two divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Filion kept Like A Glove off the pace through fractions of 26.3, 56.3, and 1:23.4.
In deep stretch, Jonathan Drury pilots D A Mcdreamy (Mcwicked) into second while McClure kept Century Komodo (Bettors Delight) in third as they were six across at the line.
Like A Glove proved too strong to win in a time of 1:52.2.
Over the course of the colt’s career, he has made $27,380 for owner Wayne Whebby.
Like A Glove is trained by Doc Moore and paid $20.40 for his upset win.
The last Semi-Finals of the night for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings was race ten on the card, and T H Mcmurry (Mcwicked) crossed the wire first to win a time of 1:52.1.
In the backstretch, Roy took T H Mcmurry straight to the front and kept the lead through fractions of 27, 56.3, and 1:25.2.
Two Bettors Delight fillies completed the podium with Unrivaled Hanover in second and Astarwasborn in third.
T H Mcmurry has made $87,166 over the course of his career for co-owners Jeffery Taylor, Siobhan Andrusek, and Graeme Mitchell.
“I made the call to put him in the Grassroots and he’s found his gear again,” said Taylor. “I’ve always thought he’s been a nice colt, but he has gone above and beyond.”
His win paid $2.10.
Grassroots action continues tomorrow night as the three-year-olds compete in the Semi-Finals.
Full Results from September 21, 2023, Woodbine Mohawk Park
Current OSS Grassroots Standings
More Top Racing Headlines