from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Mohawk Racetrack had four $16,380 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series contests for rookie pacing fillies on their Thursday (Sept. 11) program and Sassafras Girl took the fastest time as she won the third flight in 1:53.3.

With Phil Hudon handling the driving chores, Sassafras Girl shot to the lead from her post three starting position, and she would click off fractions of :27, :56, and 1:25. The fillies sprinted for home off that :58 middle half and Sassafras Girl kicked out a :28.3 final panel to seal the win by 2-1/4 lengths over Twin B Honour (Trevor Henry). Little Miss Artist (Doug McNair) was third.

Murray Brethour trains Sassafras Girl, a Badlands Hanover filly, for owner Hutt Racing Stable. Sassafras Girl, who is now four-for-eight overall and has banked $28,822, was bred by Winbak Farm. She’s out of the Die Laughing mare Tug River Della ($219,395) and a half-sister to the likes of Rub N Tug ($431,912). This was Sassafras Girl’s third Grassroots success of the season, joining her wins on July 10 and August 11 at Mohawk.

Back in the Grassroots opener, public choice Southwind Luna (Billy Davis Jr.) carved out fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:26.2 and at the eighth pole she was clear by more than three lengths. However, she began to falter inside the final sixteenth and pocket-sitter Marachere (Jonathan Drury) took advantage, getting up in the shadow of the wire to prevail by a half-length in 1:54.4. Southwind Luna had to settle for second and OK Hallelujah (Sylvain Filion) finished third.

Marachere, a filly by Lis Mara, broke her maiden in her third try and pushed her earnings to $14,251. Trainer Carmen Auciello also co-owns Marachere with partners Robert Watson, Armando Cappuccitti and Mike Bartram. Marachere, who was bred by Ervin Miller Stable Inc., is the second foal out of the Cole Muffler mare Cherry Tree Coco, a full sister to Home Bed Advantage ($573,910).

Race favorite Ride Away Shark (Jody Jamieson) had her backers smiling after a 1:54.4 triumph in the second Grassroots section. She was in the lead at the :27 opening quarter, the :55.3 half and the 1:24.4 three-quarters on her way to a three-quarter length decision over Dublin Rose (Paul MacDonell). Amazing Control (Mike Saftic) checked in third.

Ride Away Shark, another Winbak Farm-bred filly, has a trio of victories from eight attempts and has put away $26,124 for trainer Scott McNiven and owners Kim McNiven and Thomas Brodhurst. Those connections took Ride Away Shark, a daughter of Classic Card Shark, out of last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale for C$7,000. She’s the first foal out of the Dream Away mare Freedom Away. This was Ride Away Shark’s second Grassroots win of the year as she was also victorious on August 11 at Mohawk.

The Grassroots nightcap was brought to you by the number three as Ms Mac N Cheese (Sylvain Filion) posted her third consecutive Grassroots win and breeder Winbak Farm won for the third time. Ms Mac N Cheese worked her way around Machin Marley (Billy Davis Jr.) for the lead at the :27.1 opening quarter and she would go on to post a :56.2 half and a 1:25.4 three-quarters. Ms Mac N Cheese padded her advantage through the stretch and then coasted home late to win by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:54. She was followed across the finish line by Evas Girl (Peter Core) and OK Heavenly (Doug McNair).

Richard Moreau trains the victorious Badlands Hanover filly for owner L. David Ratchford. She has five wins from seven attempts this season and she has earned $30,601. The second foal out of the Artiscape mare Mr Delis Filly, Ms Mac N Cheese was sold for $10,000 at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale.

Thursday’s races concluded the Grassroots regular season for 2-year-old pacing fillies. They will return to Mohawk on Sept. 19 for their semifinal events. For full results and charts of Thursday night’s events at Mohawk, please click here.