More Grassroots finales at Mohawk

Two more harness racing divisions completed their Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots regular season as the two-year-old pacing fillies and sophomore male trotters contested their fifth legs on Monday (Sep. 11) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

In the first filly pace division, Gold winner Resilience (Jimmy Freight, Louis-Philippe Roy) made it two-for-two in the Grassroots. She turned on her jets down the lane to pass five horses and rolled a length clear in 1:53 with a :25.4 kicker. Make Out With Me (Tyler Borth) closed with her and was second-best. Wickedwoman De Vie (James MacDonald) set the pace and held third.

RESILIENCE REPLAY

Resilience is now three-for-five and surpassed $100,000 in earnings with the victory. Eric Nadeau trains the filly, whom Roy co-owns with Ecurie Francis Richard, Ecurie CSL, and Weaver Bruscemi.

In the second division, Bonitas Best Bet (All Bets Off, Doug McNair) held on by a neck to move past Tribal Dancer into the lead in the standings. She upped her total to 150 as she got home in 1:54.1 over T H Jackies Legacy (Travis Cullen) and Quite Beachy (Jonathan Drury).

BONITAS BEST BET REPLAY

Bonitas Best Bet has won four of eight starts in her rookie season, including three in the Grassroots. The Dave Menary-trained filly began her career in Philadelphia before moving to Ontario in July. In eight starts, she has racked up $54,454 for Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Weaver Bruscemi, and J and T Silva-Purnel and Libby.

Tribal Dancer (Sunshine Beach, MacDonald) had the final say and cemented her top spot in the division, splitting horses and tracking down How Much (Borth) from the pocket to take the last split in 1:52.2. How Much held off Pasta Delight (McNair) for place.

TRIBAL DANCER REPLAY

Tribal Dancer’s three wins have all come in the Grassroots. She has raked in $49,170 in eight tries for trainer Melissa Lamoreux and owner 1187422 Ontario Inc.

Like Chaos (Lookslikeachpndale, Trevor Henry) reached up late to take the first division for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings in 1:53.4. He out-sprinted Deadline Hall (Chris Christoforou) by three-quarters-of-a-length with pacesetter Darbyshire (MacDonald) right behind him in third.

LIKE CHAOS REPLAY

Like Chaos increased his sophomore season tally to nine with the victory, adding another highlight to a turnaround season. The gelding went winless at two but is nine-for-20 in 2023 for trainer Bruce Richardson. Richardson co-owns Like Chaos, who has now earned $111,526 with Joseph Coffey.

New Rules (Lookslikeachpndale) then resisted division leader Resolve To Win (Scott Young) in the final Grassroots event in a one-length score. The latter, though defeated in the 1:53 mile, locked up the top spot in the table for three-year-old trotting males. Cassius Hanover (Borth) passed horses in the stretch and took the show money.

NEW RULES REPLAY

New Rules, who won the Dream Of Glory earlier this year, is now seven-for-23 lifetime. He made the Grassroots championship last season after winning the semi-final but broke at the start. The gelding was also competitive – fourth by five-and-a-quarter lengths – in both his sole Gold try and the Simcoe Stakes. Marcel Barrieau trains him and shares ownership with Gestion Mastel Inc.

The Grassroots semi-final for two-year-old pacing fillies will be held at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sep. 21. The three-year-old trotting colts will battle for qualification on Sep. 22 at the same venue. The $75,000 finals are set for Sep. 30.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will host the last Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots regular season races of the year on Tuesday, Sep. 12. The three divisions for freshman trotters highlight the 10-race card beginning at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink