Stormont prominent in Grassroots trotting filly first leg

The Stormont prefix got off to a hot start Thursday night with Stormont Meadows harness racing homebreds taking the first two of three $23,400 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A Grassroots division opened the Thursday June 2, race card, and Stormont Molly (Angus Hall) left the gate at 30-1 from post eight. 

Driver Sylvain Filion sat off the pace in sixth position at the half-mile marker, and the filly made her move to the front around the far turn, before powering down the last 1/8 of a mile to post a 29.3 final quarter and win by four lengths in a time of 1:56.1 for trainer Kevin Benn.

“She raced good the week before finishing third, and trotting 1:56.4,” said Benn. “So, coming in there were a few who had showed better miles than her, but she looked good tonight, and I was pleased with her.”

Stormont Molly is out of the Kadabra mare Stormont Fried and is a full sister to four-year-old Stormont Barbeque, who has over $75,000 in career earnings. 

“Her sister has trotted 1:54 and is a smaller horse,” said Benn. “(Stormont Molly) is a bigger and stronger mare than her sister. So, there is no reason she can’t be that type of horse.”

Ronald Corbett homebred Angelwithattitude (Archangel) was next best in the opener for driver-trainer Jason Ryan, and Bob McClure drove Angus Hall daughter Shes Beer League to a third-place finish for trainer Jared Bothwell and owner Paul Polillo.

OSS action continued in the fifth race, with Stormont Mabel (Kadabra) besting the ten horse field.

The filly settled into third position early on from the rail post, and Louis-Philippe Roy moved her to the front by the half-mile pole. The Desiree Jones trainee held off her challengers the rest of the way for her third career win, and first in the OSS.

A pair of father-son trainer-driver duos rounded out the podium. Angelonia (Archangel) was second for Ian and Tyler Moore, and Royalty For Life daughter Pencils Down was third for Dustin and Tyler Jones, and Dustin’s ownership partners Martin and Michael Pupil. 

In the Grassroots finale, Baby Longstocking (Muscle Mass) trotted to victory for father-son pairing Gregg and Doug McNair. The filly sat off early speed in third position and moved into first entering the stretch, finishing strong to win in a time of 1:55.4.

“Doug said she kind of moved herself,” said Gregg. “He said he wasn’t quite ready to pull her out there, but she moved herself out and instead of putting her back he kept right on going.”

Baby Longstocking made just two starts as a two-year-old, before having to shut down early. She has come back strong as a three-year-old finishing second last time out at, and now winning.

“It will take her a few starts to learn to trot at a speed and she will come down every time,” said McNair. “She dropped another half second tonight. It’s all new territory for her speed wise.”

The Willow Oak Ranch homebred now has over $29,000 in career earnings.

“If she keeps improving, we will try her in a Gold,” said McNair. “She is staked up to most stuff up here, and she’s eligible to do bigger things if she is ready.”

Wheelin N Dealin daughter Silver Diamond finished second for owners Silver Stables, and Michelle Gaboury. Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy the Jean Tourigny trainee now has four top-three finishes in seven starts this season. Race favourite Lilys Lass was third. She’s trained and co-owned by Patrick Hunt, and his partner Goldfinger Stables.

 For current OSS standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

From the Ontario Sires Stakes, with files from Nicholas Barnsdale