by Sandra Snyder, for the Ontario Sire Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Three-time Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots winner Racey Miss finally found her way into a Gold Series winner’s circle with a 1:51.3 personal best at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening (Sept. 12).

Scott Zeron hustled Racey Miss off the gate from post six, reaching the quarter in :26.2, but then opted to drop into the pocket behind Regil Elektra.

Regil Elektra carried the 3-year-old pacing filly field to a :54.3 half and a 1:23 three-quarters, turning for home with a 1-1/2 length lead, but when Zeron asked Racey Miss for another gear the fan favorite responded with a finishing kick that propelled her by the leader and on to a neck victory. Best Impressions finished third in the $101,850 Gold Series division.

Zeron engineered the win for trainer Mark Steacy and owner-breeder Hudson Standrdbrd Stable Inc. The victory, the Shanghai Phil daughter’s eighth of the season, boosted Racey Miss into the tenth and final berth in the Sept. 28 Super Final.

Lightly rated Request For Parole captured the other Gold Series division with a 1:52 come-from-behind effort for driver Rick Zeron, trainer Normand Bardier, Jr. and owner Richard Berthiaume.

Also featured on the Thursday evening program were five Grassroots divisions for the 2-year-old pacing colts and Lucky King posted the quickest mile of the five, halting the Mohawk teletimer at 1:52.2.

James MacDonald crafted the Camluck-Red Carpet Queen colt’s third Grassroots win for trainer Andrew McCabe and owners Glenview Livestock Ltd. and Leonard Christopher. Lucky King heads into the Sept. 21 Grassroots championship ranked second in the point standings.

After capturing three Grassroots events at Grand River Raceway on Wednesday, father-son team Gregg and Doug McNair added one more to their tally on Thursday with OK Gladiator. The 1:53.4 win was the Mach Three-Erin Kay colt’s first in eight starts, but was not enough to boost him into the post season. Gregg McNair shares ownership of OK Gladiator with Leonard Gamble and Wayne MacRae.

The other Grassroots divisions were captured by V I P Bayama in 1:53.4; Big Green Tractor in 1:54.2; and Concert Artist in 1:53.

On Friday (Sept. 13), Mohawk Racetrack welcomes the 2-year-old pacing fillies and 3-year-old trotting fillies for Gold Series action. The first race goes to the post at 7:25 p.m.

For complete results, go to this link.