Lady Cafe Au Lait romps in Grassroots

Lady Cafe Au Lait (Big Jim) notched her second career harness racing victory as she cruised in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots fifth leg second division for two-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday (Sep. 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Fourth to the quarter in :27, Tyler Borth pulled her out for a brush to the front as they came down the backstretch, and the filly reached the top before the half in :56.2. She edged away by two-and-a-quarter lengths to three-quarters in 1:25.2 and kicked away further down the stretch, sailing to a four-and-a-half-length victory in 1:53.2. Stellrmanipulation (Bob McClure) closed from last to second on the far outside in the final quarter. Side Effects (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third.

LADY CAFE AU LAIT REPLAY

The victory was Lady Cafe Au Lait’s first in the Grassroots. She earned cheques in two Ontario Sires Stakes Golds earlier in the season and has $43,244 in the bank. She is two-for-10 lifetime for trainer Victor Puddy, who co-owns with 10452217 Canada Inc. and Lloyd Stone.

Wicked Cruizer (Mcwicked, Jody Jamieson) captured the first division for her second Grassroots win. The Gabriella Sasso-trained filly advanced second-over on the final turn and got past Windsun Charlotte (Roy) in deep-stretch to win by a half-length in 1:53.4. Windsun Charlotte was a game second. Dee (Sylvain Filion) finished third.

WICKED CRUIZER REPLAY

Wicked Cruizer has won twice in 10 career starts and has earned $35,186 for owners Jeff Courchesne, Martwest Racing, and Tony Aarts.

The Grassroots Finals are set for Sep. 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Racing continues at the track on Thursday, Sep. 19 at 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink