from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Heading into Monday night’s (Aug. 10) Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots test at Mohawk Racetrack, Judy The Beauty and Renegade Magic were tied for third in the sophomore trotting filly standings with 100 points. At night’s end the fillies were still tied, but instead of sitting third they were the new division leaders.

Judy The Beauty led off the changing of the guard, getting a picture perfect pocket trip behind fan favorite Market Strike and then sprinting down the stretch to score a half-length victory in 1:57.3. Market Strike had to settle for second, with Hope Rises trotting home in third.

“She had a few races where she got bad trips,” noted driver James MacDonald, who crafted Monday’s victory. “Tonight the trip was a little better and she capitalized.”

MacDonald guided Judy The Beauty to the win for trainer Keith Jones and owner Randy Zhok. In four Grassroots starts the Muscle Mass daughter now has two wins and two seconds for a total of 150 points.

“She’s a nice little filly,” added MacDonald. “She has a beautiful gait.”

In addition to her Grassroots victories, Judy The Beauty captured her Dream Of Glory elimination at Hanover Raceway on July 25. In 13 starts she now has three wins, two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $31,960.

Five races later Mike Saftic also used off-the-pace tactics to get Renegade Magic her third Grassroots win. The duo sat fourth through the first half of the mile, then tipped into the outside lane and sprinted home to a 2-1/2 length win over Sheguindah and pacesetter Meadow Seelster. Renegade Magic stopped the Mohawk teletimer at 1:55.4.

Ted MacDonnell conditions Renegade Magic for owner-breeders Jeff and Lori Thomson. The Kadabra filly captured her Grassroots divisions at Mohawk on June 22 and Georgian Downs on July 14, but miscues in several other starts, including the Dream Of Glory elimination won by Judy The Beauty, prompted MacDonnell to add trotting hobbles to her equipment bag for the second half of the Grassroots season. The move clearly paid off as Renegade Magic matched the personal best she recorded at Mohawk in the Grassroots season opener, and posted the quickest of Monday’s divisions.

Railee Priti took the first Grassroots division on Monday, over a track rated two seconds slower than normal, a rating which improved by one second as the evening went on. In rein to Steve Byron, Railee Priti found her way out of the pocket in the stretch and got up for a head victory over Mass Rail and pacesetting favorite Sumthintotalkabout. The 1:57.4 score was Railee Priti’s first of the season.

John Bax conditions Railee Priti for owner-breeder Ronald Mersky. In eight starts the Muscle Mass daughter now has one win, three seconds and one third for earnings of $19,155.

Sylvain Filion piloted Roses In The Rain to an upset victory in the third Grassroots division, sprinting down the stretch to a 1-1/4 length score over Tymal Signature and Magic Babe. Filion crafted the 1:58.1 win — the Federal Flex daughter’s first lifetime — for trainer Shane Arsenault and owner-breeder Rod Allen.

The last Grassroots trophy of the evening was presented to trainer-driver Wayne Henry and Pointe Of Inquiry, who stormed home to a 1:57.1 win over World Class Izzy and Stormont Contessa. Henry Stable owns the daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe, who has a record of five wins, five seconds and two thirds in 20 starts, but had not been victorious in the Ontario Sires Stakes before Monday.

Division leaders Judy The Beauty and Renegade Magic and their peers will attempt to add to their point totals in the fifth 3-year-old trotting filly Grassroots event on Aug. 25 at Mohawk Racetrack.

Ontario Sires Stakes action is back at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening with six Grassroots divisions for the 2-year-old trotting colts.