Filion scores pair of Grassroots wins

JULY 3, 2015 – With 15 events completed Sylvain Filion currently leads all harness racing drivers in the Ontario Sires Stakes program with 115 Lampman Cup points, and the Milton resident added a few more to his total guiding two sophomore trotters to Grassroots victory at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening.

Filion's first Grassroots appearance came in the second $18,000 division with Duh Bubbees, who opened his three-year-old campaign with a fifth-place result at the Gold Series level. Starting from Post 2, Filion sent Duh Bubbees straight to the front and the duo controlled the tempo through fractions of :28.1, :57.2 and 1:26.2, holding on at the wire for a half-length victory over former Grassroots division winners Call Me Richard and Kadabrasnewrecruit.

Duh Bubbees hit the wire in 1:55.2, the quickest of the five Grassroots divisions and a new personal best for the homebred son of Up Front Ben and Nothing To Justify. Trainer Jamie Wilson of Huron Park, ON bred the gelding and conditions him for Chris Wilson of Huron Park. Through 10 starts this season Duh Bubbees has two wins and one second for earnings of $27,295.

Filion was back in the winner's circle after the last race, delivering a confident performance with fan favourite Its Huw You Know from Post 8. After getting away fourth, Filion sent the Holiday Road gelding to the front and Its Huw You Know cruised home a one length winner over P L Intimidator and Delcrest Massy in a personal best 1:56.4.

Keith Jones of Midland, ON conditions Its Huw You Know for Douglas McCarthy of Holland Landing, ON. Filion also guided the gelding to a Grassroots win in the June 24 event at Grand River Raceway, and adding his fourth-place result from the June 4 season opener at Mohawk gives Its Huw You Know a total of 108 points and sole ownership of second spot in the standings at the halfway mark in the three-year-old trotting colt and gelding Grassroots schedule.

A two-time winner of the Ontario Sires Stakes driving title (2012 and 2013), Filion finished third in his only other Grassroots start on Friday, unable to catch the fourth division favourite New Muscle AS with his mount Buzz.

After getting caught at the wire in the Grand River event, Oakville resident Rick Zeron opted to race New Muscle AS from off the pace and the Muscle Mass gelding responded with an impressive 1:56.2 personal best, powering down the stretch to a one and one-quarter length victory over Stormont Wizard and Buzz.

Anette Lorentzon trains New Muscle AS, who finished second in both of his early season Grassroots starts, for ACL Stuteri AB of Paris, KY and Kjell Johansson of Sosdala, Sweden. Friday's win bumped the gelding into a tie for third spot in the standings with 100 points and puts him in an excellent position to earn a berth in the lucrative post season.

Pilgrims Joy also leapt up the standings with an impressive performance in the third Grassroots division. After getting away near the back of the field from Post 7, driver James MacDonald of Guelph sent Pilgrims Joy up the outside and the colt accelerated past the leaders and opened up a five-length margin heading into the stretch that he maintained all the way to the wire, besting Ontheroad De Vie and Lets Be Honest.

The 1:56 performance was a personal best for Pilgrims Joy, who is trained by Johnathan McKinnon of Guelph and owned by breeder Len Kordy of Kingston, ON. The Pilgrims Taj son made a break and finished eighth in his Grassroots outing at Grand River and logged a second-place result in the season opener for a total of 76 points.

The other Grassroots trophy awarded at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday evening went home with Namesmuscle, who delivered a two and one-quarter length victory in the first division for driver Doug McNair of Guelph, ON, trainer Pam Forgie of Goderich, ON and owner John Patterson of Bayfield, ON. Parkhill Lancelot and Thoughtful Leader completed the triactor.

Like Duh Bubbees, Namesmuscle started his sophomore campaign at the Gold Series level, finishing second in a division of the season opener at Western Fair Raceway on May 27. Friday's 1:56.3 triumph was the Muscle Mass son's first of the season and boosted his lifetime earnings to $49,019.

With just 50 points, Namesmuscle and Duh Bubbees will be looking to add to their tally in the fourth Grassroots event on the three-year-old trotting colt and gelding calendar, July 18 at Kawartha Downs.

Mohawk Racetrack kicks off the two-year-old Ontario Sires Stakes season on Monday, July 6 with three Gold Series divisions for the pacing fillies. The fillies are featured in Races 3, 6, and 9 on the 7:25 pm program.

Ontario Horse Racing