Three-year-olds battle in Grassroots Semi-Finals

MILTON, September 22, 2023 – Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) harness racing three-year-olds took centre stage at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the Grassroots Semi-Finals.

Each Semi-Final has a purse of $20,000, beginning with three-year-old trotting fillies in race one, and ending with three-year-old pacing colts and geldings in race eleven, for a total of eight races.

Grassroots Semi-Final: Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies

Smashin Racquets (Resolve) won the first Semi-Finals of the night for three-year-old trotting fillies. Bob McClure took Smashin Racquets straight to the front out of post four and kept the lead through fractions of 27.1, 57.2, and 1:27.1.

She was challenged in deep stretch by Sweet Detrmination (Lookslikeachpndale) and driver Doug McNair, but Smashin Racquets proved too strong, crossing the wire at 1:55.

Northern Demi (Royalty For Life) rounds out the top three driven by Trevor Henry.

Smashin Racquets is trained by Robert Fellows and has made $91,937 over the course of her career for owner Awesome Acres Stbds. The filly captured her third straight win. Her win paid $2.30.

In race three, the second Semi-Finals for three-year-old trotting fillies, Pretty Special (Resolve) took the win in a time of 1:53.3 with driver Chris Christoforou. Christoforou kept Pretty Special off the pace and in fourth through fractions of 28, 56.4, and 1:25.2. In the far turn, Pretty Special made a move to take the lead and came flying home. Lastkickathecan (Wheeling N Dealin) and driver Louis-Philippe Roy came in second and Its Your Choice (Muscle Mass) driven by McNair finished in third.

Pretty Special has made $90,788 over the course of her career for owner Bradley Grant and is trained by Camilla Christoforou. She paid $3.40 for the win.

Grassroots Semi-Final: Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies

In race four, Twin Delight (Bettors Delight) won the first of two divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies.

Twin Delight piloted by McClure, challenged leader Mystic Wild Rose (Betterthancheddar) and Phillippe Hudon late in deep stretch for a photo finish win at the wire in a time of 1:52.3.

Elises Delight (Bettors Delight) and driver Henry rounded out the podium.

The first-place finish for Twin Delight is her sixth on the season and has made $143,506 over the course of her career for owner Hutt Racing Stable.

Twin Delight is trained by Shawn Steacy and paid $24.30 for her upset win.

The second Semi-Finals of the night for three-year-old pacing fillies was race ten on the card, Sweetest Belle (Sportswriter) piloted by McNair came away with the win in a time of 1:52.3.

Two All Bets Off fillies completed the podium with Glenboro in second and Grandeur Seelster in third.

Susanne Kerwood is the trainer of Sweetest Belle, and she has made $104,851 for co-owners Frank Brundle, and Gordon Lyons. Her win paid $2.50.

Grassroots Semi-Final: Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings

The first Semi-Finals for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings was race five on the card, and New Rules (Lookslikeachpndale) driven by Austin Sorrie came away with the win by crossing the wire at 1:54.

Sorrie piloted New Rules straight to the front out of post three to take the early lead.

The Great Reset (Resolve) and driver Lorne House finish in second while Deadline Hall (Muscle Mass) and driver Christoforou finish in third.

New Rules has made $147,333 over the course of her career for co-owners Gestion Mastel Inc, and Marcel Barrieau.

Barrieau is also the trainer of the colt.

He paid $3.10 for his win.

In race seven, the second Semi-Finals for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, Resolve To Win (Resolve) took the win in a time of 1:54.4 with driver Scott Young.

In the backstretch, Young took Resolve To Win straight to the front and kept the lead through fractions of 28, 57.1, and 1:25.3.

A final push in deep stretch from Rough Tuff Tested (Muscle Mass) driven by McNair and P L Quinella (Kadabra) piloted by MacDonald but Resolve To Win proved too strong.

Rough Tuff Tested finished in second while P L Quinella rounded out the podium.

Resolve To Win is trained by Matthew Bax and has made $115,391 over the course of her career for co-owners Bax Stable, Bradley Grant, Gaelic Stable, and Don Allensen. The Resolve colt paid $4.00 for the win.

Grassroots Semi-Final: Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings

Winmebak (Shadow Play) won the first of two divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

James MacDonald and Winmebak challenged Mufferaw Joe (Betterthancheddar) and Henry in the backstretch to take the lead and cross the wire first at 1:51.

In deep stretch, The Moment Arose (Control The Moment) and driver McNair made a late push in the battle for second, but Mufferaw Joe proved too strong to finish in second.

Winmebak back has six wins in eleven starts on the season and has made $133,238 over the course of his career for owner Millar Farms.

The Shadow Play colt is trained by Nick Gallucci and his win paid $2.50.

The last Semi-Finals of the night for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings was race eleven on the card, and Palladium Hanover (Artspeak) and driver Travis Cullen crossed the wire first to win a time of 1:51.2.

Ahi Sunshine (Sunshine Beach) driven by Jonathan Drury finished in second while Liberty Royal (Royal Mattjesty) piloted by Henry rounded out the podium.

The first-place finish for Palladium Hanover set a new career best and has made $83,729 over the course of his career for owner co-owners Wayne Mac Rae, and Daniel Ross.

Jodie Cullen is the trainer of the Artspeak colt.

He paid $11.60 for the win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kara Martin, for Ontario Racing