by Sandra Snyder

Dundas, ON — Southwind Madonna capped off a perfect afternoon of Grassroots Championship action at Flamboro Downs on Saturday (Oct. 7) with an outstanding track, Canadian and Ontario Sires Stakes performance in the 3-year-old pacing filly final.

“I figured in my own mind they’d have to go better than 1:53 to beat her. I really did,” admitted trainer Carl MacArthur after the filly’s record setting mile. “Just the way she trained this week compared to last week.”

With the trainer’s son Lyle MacArthur in the race bike, Southwind Madonna sprinted to the front from post two and laid down a :27.1 opening quarter. While Prairie Tracker tried to hug the fan favorite’s heels through the :56.3 half and the 1:24.4 three-quarters, when Lyle MacArthur asked for another gear turning for home Southwind Madonna pulled away to a 4-1/4 length victory in 1:52.3.

The mile lowered the 1:52.4 track and Canadian record set by Draconian Promise in Flamboro Breeders action six weeks ago and the 1:53.1 Ontario Sires Stakes record Southwind Madonna equaled in her Grassroots Semifinal last Friday.

Carl MacArthur of Brampton shares ownership on Southwind Madonna with the members of Talacadac Stable of Kleinburg. In 31 starts this season the talented daughter of Camluck and My Mystic recorded seven wins, eight seconds and four thirds for earnings of $183,022.

“I think this performance shows that she is definitely as competitive as any of them in the division this year,” said Darryl MacArthur, the D in Talacadac Stables. “It worked out perfectly, we’re pretty excited.”

In addition to Southwind Madonna’s outstanding performance in the last of the eight $89,000 Grassroots Finals, Flamboro Downs fans were also treated to an Ontario Sires Stakes record in the first race by 2-year-old pacing filly Magic Maverick.

The Western Maverick daughter and driver Brad Forward took full advantage of the inside post one and controlled the race through the :28 quarter and :57.3 half. Under heavy pressure from Spun Sugar through the last half of the race, Magic Maverick maintained her composure through the 1:26.1 three-quarters and when Forward asked for a second gear in the stretch she pulled away to a 4-1/4 length victory over Fysia. Spun Sugar settled for third.

LaSalle resident Bob McIntosh trains Western Maverick for his partner and fellow breeder CSX Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio. A late bloomer, Magic Maverick did not make her first start until mid-August, but she quickly made up for lost time. In six starts the talented young pacer boasts five wins, one second and $82,619 in earnings.

Two races later Wantasmile emulated Magic Maverick’s front end tactics and matched her 1:54.2 clocking to earn the 2-year-old pacing colt title.

The Grinfromeartoear son laid down fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:26 on his way to a two length victory over favorite Themachmanprophecy and Windsun Ben. Antonio Chiaravalle of Hamilton owns Wantasmile, who captured four of eight starts in his freshman campaign, including last Saturday’s Semifinal.

“When he won last week he was good, but he needed the race,” said trainer Nat Varty from the winner’s circle. “He trained much better this week. I had a feeling he would jump up today.”

A half-brother to $536,590 winner Dream Wave, Wantasmile banked $80,536 in his freshman campaign and has entertained Varty and his staff since moving to the Warsaw resident’s barn in mid-September.

“He’s a real cool dude,” said Varty. “He has two big rubber balls in his stall that he plays with, he’s always throwing them around. He’s a neat horse to be around.”

Trainer Wendell Waples was not so flattering when speaking of 3-year-old trotting filly champion Strikinresemblance, who stuck a nose in front of pacesetter Enlighten Me to earn the 2:00.3 victory in race five.

The Hepworth resident says the Striking Sahbra daughter, who also finished first in the division point race, is quick with her teeth and heels in the barn, but puts that cantankerous attitude to good use on the race track.

“She’s got character, good horses are like that,” said Waples, who shares ownership on the filly with his wife, Sally Waples, and sons Jack and Dale. “I knew she would come and play today. She likes to race.”

Fan favorite Taylorlane Crush settled for third in the sophomore trotting filly contest.

The other sophomore Grassroots Champions crowned at Flamboro on Saturday were trotting colt Indiana Hall, who delivered a two length victory in 1:57.3 for S S G Stables of North Boston, New York, and pacing colt Stonebridge Ideal, who snuck up the passing lane to steal the 1:54.1 victory from Banana Joes Bar. Trainer Bob McIntosh, Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington and Angie Stiller of Arva share ownership on Stonebridge Ideal.

Carting home the other trophies from the 2-year-old divisions were trotting filly Disco Inferno, who stopped the clock at 2:00.3 for trainer Carl Jamieson of Princeton and breeder Dr. Robert Boyce of London, and trotting colt Dalton Hall, who logged a two length victory in 2:01 for trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph, Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke and Dean Lockhart of Collingwood.