Bettors Delight filly in charge in $75,000 Grassroots Final

MILTON, September 30, 2023 – Following a traffic-troubled fifth-place finish in the semifinal round, Century Jamila (Bettors Delight-Exotic Pleasure) made sure to control her own harness racing destiny in Saturday night’s (Sep. 30) $75,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots final for three-year-old pacing fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park, quarter-moving to the top and outlasting a pair of stout challenges en route to a 1:50.4 lifetime mark.

One of four Shawn Steacy trainees to qualify for the 10-horse final, 6-5 favourite Century Jamila yielded early control to 63-1 outsider Glenboro (driven by Travis Cullen) through a :12 first eighth before driver Sylvain Filion brushed her from the pocket to control a :26.3 quarter.

“I was just hoping to get a clean trip and not get locked in,” said Filion, referring to the confined trips that limited Century Jamila to third- and fifth-place finishes in her previous two outings. “I was just making sure I could give her some racetrack to go, and she did a great job.”

After rating a :55.1 half, Century Jamila faced steady but mild pressure from first-over challenger and stablemate Twin B Delight (Scott Young) through the far turn, protecting a one-length lead on the far turn and widening it again to 1 ¾ lengths at three-quarters in 1:23.4 as she found a second wind.

“She felt really good around the last turn,” Filion continued. “She swelled up because of that horse on the outside of her.”

Century Jamila continued to pace strongly off the home turn, accelerating after dismissing Twin B Delight off the corner.

As the outer tier stalled, Austin Sorrie found room to angle Grandeur Seelster – who was third back along the pegs – into clear sailing to take late aim at the pacesetter, but their late rally came up three-quarters of a length short.

Sweetest Belle (Jody Jamieson), who had been buried at the back of the pack, lifted belatedly up the inside to finish third, another length behind.

After not racing as a two-year-old, Century Jamila has banked $138,280 in 19 starts this season for the partnership of K and K Stable, Landmark 115 Racing Stable, and A K Malik Stable, winning eight of them.

In Grassroots action alone, the filly won four of her five preliminary legs – including all three of her Woodbine appearances.

Century Jamila returned $4.60 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by James Witherite, for Ontario Racing