(Photo of Dayliner and Paul Walker courtesy of New Image Media)
Six $18,000 Grassroots divisions were featured on Mohawk Racetrack’s Tuesday evening program as the three-year-old trotting fillies opened their 2016 season.
Things got off to a quick start as Magical Valentine and trainer-driver Jack Moiseyev fired to the front before the halfway marker and sailed home to a 1:56.2 personal best in the first division. In just her fourth lifetime start, Magical Valentine bested a pair of freshman Grassroots winners, Traviata and Dewdle All Day.
Moffat, ON resident Moiseyev conditions the daughter of Kadabra for M T Pockets Stables of Pompano Beach, FL. The win boosted Magical Valentine’s sophomore record to two wins, one second and earnings of $19,500 in three starts.
The sharp tempo was maintained in the second division as favourite Magical Steph and Myretirementticket battled through fractions of :27.2, :56 and 1:26.1 before yielding in the stretch to a hard-closing Royal Charm. After pushing out three-wide to get a clear look at the leaders, Royal Charm and trainer-driver Mark Steacy powered down the stretch to a one-half length victory in 1:55.4. Myretirementticket stayed game for second and Its All About Sam trotted into third.
“Royal Charm is a well-bred filly that has always shown a lot of speed, but has been hampered by tie-up problems and immaturity,” said Steacy of the Majestic Son-Queen Of Grace daughter. “Hopefully her problems are now behind her so we can continue to see what she can do.”
The Lansdowne, ON resident conditions Royal Charm for Shelly MacMillan of Waterloo, ON, David McDonald of Cornwall, ON, Hudson Standardbred Stables Inc. of Hudson, QC and Bridle Path Stables Ltd. of Ossining, NY. Tuesday’s win was the filly’s first in six outings.
Fan favourites Dayliner and Paul Walker also delivered a sharp mile in the third division, trotting under the wire in 1:56, one and one-quarter lengths ahead of Powerful Glare and Silky Flashy Nfast. The win — a new lifetime mark for the Muscle Mass daughter — was Dayliner’s second in 16 appearances. Walker trains and drives the filly for his wife Brenda Walker of Owen Sound, ON.
The first-time winner trend continued in the fourth division as Jody Jamieson stepped into the race bike behind True Muscle and guided the filly to a one and one-half length victory in 1:57.1. Fan favourites Could It Be Magic and I Want Kandy settled for second and third behind the first time winner.
“She’s just a sweet OSS filly that seems to want to do everything you ask,” said Jamieson, who piloted the Muscle Mass daughter to the win for trainer Keith Jones of Barrie, ON and owner Randy Zhok of Dover Centre, ON.
“I liked her so much that I’m going to go to Georgian Downs to drive her in the Alliance Final on Sunday (June 19),” added the Moffat resident.
P C Cantore earned her first Ontario Sires Stakes trophy in the fifth Grassroots division, reaching the Mohawk Racetrack finish line two lengths ahead of Smash Hit and Zorgwijk Queen. Arthur, ON resident Trevor Henry piloted the daughter of Cornaro Dasolo and Balladeer to the 1:57.2 victory for owner-breeder-trainer Peter Clements of Dobbinton, ON. Unraced at two, P C Cantore now has four wins in six starts and earnings of $21,592.
The final Grassroots trophy was awarded to Majestic Mistress, who hung on for a neck victory after battling pacesetter Absolut Seelster from the halfway marker onward. Majestic Mistress and driver Ryan Holliday stopped the teletimer at 1:58.1, holding off favourite P L Jill and second choice Magical Wonder. The win was the Majestic Son daughter’s first in seven outings.
“It was nice to get the monkey off our back with her,” said driver Ryan Holliday of Mount Forest, ON. “She can trot enough; it’s just a matter of keeping her at task. I think she’s getting the hang of it.”
Holliday’s father Dave, also of Mount Forest, conditions Majestic Mistress for owner-breeder Ron Corbett of St. Jacobs, ON.
The three-year-old trotting fillies will make their second Grassroots start on July 1, during Dresden Raceway’s Canada Day celebrations.
Ontario Sires Stakes action continues at Mohawk Racetrack this week, with the three-year-old pacing colts taking centre stage on Thursday with six Grassroots divisions and the three-year-old pacing fillies stepping to the forefront on Friday with seven Grassroots splits. Post time for both programs is 7:30 pm.
More Industry News