Filion made his first appearance in the winner’s circle following the third Grassroots division, guiding Northern Idol to a surprising 1-1/2 length victory. The lightly regarded son of Kadabra and Independent Woman took control heading by the halfway marker and never looked back, cruising home to a 2:00.3 victory.
Filion engineered the victory for trainer Rob Fellows and his partners Synerco Ventures Inc. and Blair Corbeil. The win was the Kadabra gelding’s first in two starts. In the June 29 Grassroots season opener at Kawartha Downs, Northern Idol made a break and finished seventh.
Filion’s second victory came in the final $17,280 division with favorite Whichamacallit, who reeled in the leaders through the stretch to chart a 1-1/4 length victory in 2:00.2. Filion piloted the Deweycheatumnhowe-Won An Done son to victory in his first lifetime start for trainer Dustin Jones and owner Ecurie Synergie, who offered up $75,000 for the young trotter at last fall’s Standardbred Horse Sale.
The wins will maintain Filion’s current position atop the 2013 driver’s standings, but the reinsman is under heavy pressure from Jody Jamieson, who piloted Maximuscle to the fastest mile of the five Grassroots divisions Monday. TheAngus Hall-Iceberg Angus son stopped the teletimer at 1:58.1, 5-1/2 lengths ahead of his peers.
Eric Valiquette trains Maximuscle for owner-breeder Ecurie Provoquante.
The other Grassroots division winners were R Choochoo Charlie (Muscle Mass-Great Expectations, 2:00.4) and Pasadena Star (Kadabra-Pasadena Princess, 1:59.3).
The 2-year-old trotting colts make their third Grassroots start at Georgian Downs on July 30. Next on Mohawk Racetrack’s Ontario Sires Stakes calendar are the Mid-Summer Challenges for the 2-year-old pacing colts and fillies on Friday (July 19).