Fans enjoyed an entertaining afternoon of racing at Clinton Raceway on Sunday, July 4, capped off by a three-year-old trotting filly track record mile from Grassroots competitor Fuzzy Angel and a Kin Pace title for undefeated three-year-old pacing filly Saulsbrook Olympia.
Starting from Post 3 in the third $21,100 Grassroots division, Fuzzy Angel got a confident steer from driver Jody Jamieson. The fan favourites went straight to the front and rolled through fractions of :29.2, :59.3 and 1:30.1 before pulling away from the field in the stretch to record a 1:58.4 victory. Pocket sitter Hadiknownbetter finished four lengths back in second and Can You Swing It was five more lengths behind in third. The mile peeled one-fifth of a second off the 1:59 three-year-old trotting filly track record set by Profound Paragon in Grassroots action last summer.
“I was starting to wonder if she was every going to break her maiden,” said trainer Blake MacIntosh with a chuckle. “She’s a nice filly that really likes the half. She can trot the turns better than the straightaways.”
In 13 previous starts, two this season and 11 in the freshman campaign, Fuzzy Angel had never found the winner’s circle, finishing second three times and third three times for earnings of $38,681. With her record setting victory, the Archangel daughter boosted her career earnings to $49,231 for St. George, ON resident MacIntosh and his co-owner Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, PA.
Tipsy In Dixie kicked off the stakes action in the first $21,450 Grassroots division, overcoming the outside Post 7 to record a front-end victory in 2:01.1. Century Highness finished two lengths behind the fan favourite in second and LMC Smores was three more back in third.
“She is just one of the handiest and best gaited horses you will sit behind. She has tons of gate speed,” said driver James MacDonald, who also guided the Muscle Mass daughter to three Grassroots wins last season. “She’s just a real pleasure to drive; makes my job very easy.”
MacDonald steers Tipsy In Dixie for trainer Harry Poulton and owners TheStable Tipsy In Dixie of Guelph, ON and Hutchison Harness LLC of North Ridgeville, OH.
Like their peers A Blue Blood and driver Doug McNair captured the second $21,450 Grassroots division with a front-end effort, holding off favourite Fox Valley Liza for a one and three-quarter length win in 2:00.3. Prestige Worldwide rounded out the top three.
“They made a few changes with her hopples and bridle today, and it worked really good,” said McNair, who had called the Muscle Mass daughter tricky to drive heading into the race.
Gregg McNair of Guelph trains A Blue Blood for Matthew and Roy Trelford of Mildmay, ON. Sunday’s win was the filly’s third of the season and her first in Ontario Sires Stakes action.
The last Grassroots division went to Fortune Tellers K and trainer-driver Donnie Rankin, Jr., who benefitted from miscues by fan favourite Rubys Are Nice and pacesetter Charmbo Princess. Taking full advantage of the errors, Fortune Tellers K trotted under the wire in 2:01.4 to earn her first lifetime victory. Larrys Girl finished second and Havana Moon was third.
Amherstburg resident Rankin shares ownership of the Angus Hall daughter with Ralph MacKinley and Mike Leeming of London, ON. Fortune Tellers K and her peers will make their second Grassroots start of the season on July 16 at Grand River Raceway.
The $58,300 Kin Pace Final for three-year-old pacing fillies wrapped up the afternoon’s stakes action and Saulsbrook Olympia got a perfectly executed second-over steer from driver Brett MacDonald to score the 1:56.3 victory over Sports Duchess and Jackieofalltrades. Favourite A Better Game finished fourth after giving Saulsbrook Olympia a windbreak in the outer lane.
The win was the fourth straight and seventh lifetime for Saulsbrook Olympia, who was four-length winner in her elimination last weekend. The Big Jim daughter has yet to be bested this season for reinsman MacDonald, trainer Brian Lee and owner Saulsbrook Stables Inc. of Windsor, ON.
Complete results from Sunday’s program are available here and replays can be viewed on Clinton Raceway’s YouTube channel.
Ontario Sires Stakes action will return to Clinton Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 5 with the fourth Grassroots event for the two-year-old pacing colts.
Photo: Three-year-old trotting filly Fuzzy Angel celebrated her 1:58.4 track record tour of Clinton Raceway, in the third of four $21,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions, with Jim Gillespie (left), driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Blake MacIntosh. (Ryan Clements Photos)
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