Grand River Raceway wraps up its Ontario Sires Stakes season on a high note this Friday, September 20, hosting the final Gold Series leg for the province’s top two-year-old pacing fillies and trotting fillies.
The pacing fillies kick things off in the second race with a $105,000 division loaded with Top 10 talent. Second-ranked Yoselin Seelster gets Post 6, fourth-ranked Alibi Seelster will benefit from Post 1, number eight fillyPorsche Seelster will line up at Post 5 for trainer Gregg McNair, and ninth-ranked Performing Art gets Post 2.
Only the top 10 point earners will advance to next weekend’s Super Final and there are three fillies sitting right below the leaders who will be hoping to make the leap into the lucrative post season. Regil Meg is just four points back and comes into the contest off a runner-up finish in the Sept. 13 Gold event at Mohawk Racetrack. The Artistic Fella daughter will have to overcome the outside Post 8 to score a top three finish for trainer Carmen Auciello and owners Denarben Stables of Thornhill and Rocco Auciello of Stouffville. Also needing a top three result are Medoland Lindylou at Post 3 and Lady Jake at Post 7.
The other pacing filly division goes postward in the tenth race and it will feature the Battle of the Belles champion Lady Shadow. The Gregg McNair trainee will be looking for her third victory over the Grand River Raceway oval from Post 6. Guelph resident McNair conditions the Shadow Play daughter, who is sitting sixth in the point standings, for owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin of Lexington, MI.
The freshman trotting fillies battle in Races 5, 7, and 11 and McNair trainee Luck Is All Ineed will be looking for her second Gold Series win from Post 1 in the last $70,000 division. The Muscle Mass filly made her first appearance in the provincial winner’s circle on Aug. 15, circling the Rideau Carleton Raceway oval in 2:00.1. Tied for second in the trotting filly point race, Luck Is All Ineed is owned by McNair and Thomas Harmer of Willowbrook, IL.
Grand River Raceway’s starter will call the first horses to the gate at 7:05 p.m. on Friday. The two-year-old pacing fillies will show off their speed and skill in Races 2 and 10 and the two-year-old trotting fillies will star in Races 5, 7, and 11.
(OSS)