from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Heading into Thursday night’s (July 31) Ontario Sires Stakes event for 2-year-old trotting fillies at Mohawk, the leading trainers to date in the 2014 OSS were Gregg McNair, Bob McIntosh and John Bax and each stable added to their points with at least one victory in the seven $16,560 tests.

McNair, the current leader wth 141 points in the Johnston Cup standings, scored with Striking Ivy who was notching her first lifetime win. The Striking Sahbra-Pretty Muscles daughter raced liked a veteran despite it just being her fourth lifetime outing, coming three wide on the final turn for McNair’s son Doug and winning in 1:59.4 over My Mini Snickers (Muscle Mass) and Elegant Serenity (Kadabra).

Bred and owned by Bloomingwood Farms, the filly is a half-sister to $259,992 winner Krakatoa.

McIntosh’s winner was courtesy of Stay In Touch, a Kadabra-Dial Nile filly who pulled Randy Waples to a 2:00.3 effort over Superbowl Sunshine (Muscle Mass) and Sylvia Van Hall (Deweycheatumnhowe). It was the second straight victory for Stay In Touch, owned and bred by McIntosh and C S X Stable.

This family is performing well for the McIntosh stable in this year’s OSS as Stay In Touch’s half-sister, the Mr Lavec mare Miss Lovecky, is the dam of the rookie trotting miss A Little More Love who has two OSS Gold wins to her credit so far this year.

John Bax saw his filly Flexceptional close extremely well for Paul MacDonell to taker her division in 2:01 over Dewy Take A Selfie (Deweycheatumnhowe) and Its A Hotty (Federal Flex). It was the first lifetime start for the daughter of Federal Flex-Maurel Hanover, owned by Dave Hudson.

Bax and MacDonell were back in the winner’s circle following Stubborn Belle’s very impressive gate-to-wire win in 2:00. It was the first lifetime win for the Taurus Dream-Musetta Hanover daughter owned by Bax’s Parkhill Stud Farm and Al Libfeld.

Bax almost had a hat trick with Railee Priti in the final test of the night which would also prove the fastest. That filly raced very well, overcoming some traffic problems and fought hard down the lane but was overtaken late by The Murmuring Pan and Steve Condren who tripped the timer in 1:59. Winem (Kadabra) nosed out Railee Priti (Muscle Mass) for second.

Bred and owned by Peter Pan Stable, the winner is a daughter of Kadabra-Epangeline trained by Arnold Marks. It was the second lifetime start for the second foal of the $448,084 winner Epangeline.

The next quickest division of the night belonged to Mass Rail who was a five length winner for Trevor Henry in 1:59.1 over Fiery Eyes (Mr Lavec) and D Espoir (Windsong Espoir). Henry co-owns the winner with 1035840 Ontario Inc. Trained by Henry’s wife Shannon, Mass Rail (Muscle Mass-Hope Floats) was recording her first lifetime win in three attempts this year.

Judy The Beauty captured her division in 2:00.3 for Bob McClure, trainer Keith Jones and owner Randy Zhok. It was the second straight Grassroots victory for the Muscle Mass-Northern Goddess filly.

The next Grassroots event for this group is slated for Aug. 9 at Georgian Downs. To view the full results from Thursday night’s races, click here.