Tymal Breezee kicked things off in the third race, charging out of the pocket to score a head victory over pacesetter Uncommon Grace and Kylie Hall. Tymal Breezee and driver David Dowling halted the Hiawatha Horse Park teletimer at 1:58.2.
It was the second win of the season for Tymal Breezee, and puts the Angus Hall miss in a position to compete in the Grassroots post season. France MacLean conditions the young trotter for Gerry and Brenda Gauthier of Azilda and Paul MacLean of Chelmsford.
In the second division Elin dominated the field from start to finish, rolling home to a five and one-half length victory in a personal best 1:56.3. Fan favourite Movement chased the leader home in second and Windsong Isis rounded out the top three.
Trevor Henry crafted Elin’s first win of the season for trainer Ian Downey and S S G Stables of North Boston, NY. The Angus Hall daughter started her provincial campaign at the Gold Series level, where she logged one fifth and one sixth.
Trainer Paul Walker piloted Dayplanner to her first win of the season for owner Brenda Walker of Owen Sound in the third split. The Oaklea Julian miss, who went four-for-four in regular season Grassroots action at two, has struggled to regain her form as a sophomore and had only one second-place result to her credit through eight starts heading into Thursday’s event.
Walker and Dayplanner bested pacesetter and favourite Gourmandine by half a length, stopping the clock at 1:59.2. Noble Lover finished just three-quarters of a length back in third.
Driver Keith Wallis captured the next two divisions, steering Golden Lake and Cool Creek Breeze to identical 1:56.3 front end scores.
Ben Baillargeon conditions Golden Lake for Patricia Whittaker Trust of Aspers, PA and recently added trotting hopples to the filly’s equipment bag. Since capturing her Grassroots division at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 6 the Majestic Son daughter had been struggling to deliver a clean effort. Sporting the hopples she was flawless on Thursday, besting Twin B Sensation and Noble Peace Prize.
Thursday’s win was the second straight in Grassroots action for Cool Creek Breeze, who was a winner at Mohawk Racetrack on Aug. 10. The Angus Hall daughter — also trained by Rockwood resident Ben Baillargeon for his partner, and the filly’s breeder, Diane Ingham of Mount Pleasant — hit the Hiawatha finish one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Amber Kadabra and Warrawee Nuke.
Fan favourite Majic Trend cruised along on the front to a 1:57.2 decision in the tenth race. The Kadabra daughter bested pocket sitter Stormont Fried by a length, with Thunderaway, owned by Darryl Laver of Petrolia, Fred Petersen of Springfield and Martin Hossack of Thamesford, two more lengths back in third.
Regular reinsman Stephen Byron steered Majic Trend to her fourth victory for trainer John Bax and owners Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough and Gordon Wright of Charlotte, MI.
The final Grassroots trophy went home with Autumn Treasure, who also employed front end tactics to record her three-quarter length victory over Racing Dreams. Can I Say was well back of the leaders in third.
The 1:57.1 clocking was a new personal best for the Kadabra miss owned by Idylwood Stables Inc. of Peterborough and Watkins Equine Inc. of Newcastle and trained by Dr. A. J. Peter Johnston.
The three-year-old trotting fillies make their second last Grassroots start at Grand River Raceway on August 31. Next up at Hiawatha Horse Park are the two-year-old pacing fillies, who will impress Sarnia and area fans with their burgeoning skill on Saturday, Sept. 1.
(OSS)