Elora, ON – Flowing Tribute set a 1:55.2 track record and HP Crystaline broke her maiden in their respective $90,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Leg 4 events for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Wednesday (Sept. 3) at Grand River Raceway.
Flowing Tribute’s record mile came in the second division with Bob McClure at the reins. Sent off as the 1-5 favorite, Flowing Tribute led the field through fractions of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:27.1 and defeated two-time Gold champ Bingo Night (Tyler Jones) by 2 ¼ lengths. Barbara May (Doug McNair) was third in the field of seven, followed by Lo And Behold (Louis-Philippe Roy) and A Splash Of Green (James MacDonald).
Flowing Tribute paid $2.60 to win. Her mile was just two-fifths-of-a-second off the Canadian and OSS record for a 2-year-old trotting filly of 1:55 set by Hall of Fame mare Bee A Magician at Georgian Downs in 2012.
It was the third Gold Series victory of the year for Flowing Tribute, a daughter of Green Manalishi S out of Watch The Show trained by Paul Reid for owners Patrick Dillon of Port Hope, ON, Laurie Rooney of Deleon Springs, FL, Brian Kleinberg of Madison, NJ and Richard Beinhauer of Venetia, PA.
The victory improved Flowing Tribute to 4-1-0 in five career starts and upped her bankroll to $165,600. She previously had won her Gold events on July 11 and July 25, both at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Bingo Night and Cher Hill won the Gold events on Aug. 4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Bred by Diane Ingham of Mount Pleasant, ON and Brenda Barnim of St. George Brant, ON, Flowing Tribute was purchased for $30,000 at the 2024 London Classic Yearling Sale.
In the first division, HP Crystaline (Louis-Philippe Roy) posted her first career victory, notching a 1:58.2 triumph in the five-horse field that was 2 ¼ lengths better than Timeless (Todd Ratchford). Social Wizard (Tyler Borth) was third, Figuratively (Tyler Jones) was fourth and 3-5 favourite Cher Hill (Doug McNair), the only previous Gold winner in the field, made a break in the last turn and finished last.
HP Crystaline, sent off at 4-1, led from gate to wire through fractions of :27.4, :56.2 and 1:27.4. The homebred daughter of Alarm Detector out of HP Bruxelles – owned by Claude Hamel and Jean Denis Pelletier of Shefford, QC and trained by Chantal Mitchell – improved to 1-2-1 in five career starts and increased her bankroll to $69,848. The trotting filly paid $10.10 to win.
GRASSROOTS RESULTS
Recently, in the Grassroots side of the program, there were events on Saturday (Aug. 30) at Hanover Raceway and Hiawatha Horse Park, as well as on Sunday (Aug. 31) at Clinton Raceway.
On the Saturday card at Hanover, there were two $25,000 OSS Grassroots Series divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies. The winners were:
- No Better Air (Cattlewash—Claireabell) in 1:59 for breeder Glencairn Racing Stb of Toronto, owners Andrea Lea Racinstables LLCC of Lakefield Gore, QC, Scott McEneny of Carlisle, ON and Aristi Varsakis of Hamilton, ON, trainer McEneny and driver Trevor Henry.
- Talbot Kristen (Cattlewash—Kit Kat Artist) in a career-best 1:58.4 for breeder Karen Carroll of Shedden, ON, owner/trainer John Pentland of Dorchester, ON and his co-owners Doug Wilson of Dorchester, ON, Gary Volpe of St. Thomas, ON and Alan Alber of Thornhill, ON and driver Bob McClure. Talbot Kristen was purchased for $45,000 U.S. at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling sale in Harrisburg, PA.
At Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, there were twp $25,000 OSS Grassroots Series divisions for 2-year-old trotting colts. The winners were:
- Green Nineteen (Green Manalishi S—Marion Mayflower) in a career-best 1:58.2 for breeder Gregory Tucker of Washington, NJ, owners Bax Stable of Campbellville, ON, Harbor Racing Stable LLC of Uxbridge, ON, Brilo Farms of Sharon, ON and Peter Porter of Port Dover, ON and trainer/driver Matt Bax. Green Nineteen was purchased for $42,000 U.S. at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling sale in Harrisburg, PA.
- Hot Country (Muscle Mass—Feel Invincible AS) in 1:58.1 for breeders Tara Hills Stud of Port Perry, ON, Glenn Bechtel of Kingston, ON and Jon Brinkerhoff of Hilliard, OH, owner Millar Farms of Stoufville, ON, trainer Nick Gallucci and driver Jason Ryan. Hot Country was purchased for $110,000 at the 2024 London Classic Yearling Sale.
At Clinton Raceway on Sunday, there were two $25,000 OSS Grassroots Series divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts. The winners were:
- D A Lets Dance (Dancin Lou—Quantum Blue Chip) in 2:002. for breeders Ashley and Dean Wilson of Kerwood,ON, owner/trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph, ON and his ownership partners Fred Woolford and Ilderton Boys Stable of London, ON and Matthew McManus of Burlington, ON; driver Tyler Borth. D A Lets Dancer was purchased for $60,000 at the 2024 London Classic Yearling Sale.
- Thirty Six Red (All Bets Off—Tantalizing Trish) in 1:58 for owner/breeder Steve Fudge of Erin, ON and his ownership partner Paul Davies of Arthur, ON and trainer/driver Paul Davies.
Up next in Ontario Sires Stakes action:
- Saturday, Sept. 6 – Grassroots Series for 3-year-old filly trotters at Hanover Raceway
- Monday, Sept. 8 – Grassroots Series for 2-year-old filly pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park
- Monday, Sept. 8 – Grassroots Series for 2-year-old filly trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park
- Tuesday, Sept. 9 – Grassroots Series for 2-year-old cold pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park
- Tuesday, Sept. 9 – Grassroots Series for 2-year-old colt trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park
- Thursday, Sept. 11 – Grassroots Series for 3-year-old colt trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park
- Friday, Sept. 12 – Grassroots Series for 3-year-old colt pacer at Woodbine Mohawk Park
The complete OSS schedule is here:
For more information:
Ontario Sires Stakes website: