If you like two-year-old trotters, then Woodstock Raceway was the place to be on Tuesday as the half-mile oval hosted ten OSS Grassroots divisions for freshmen fillies.
The biggest highlight of the program was a track record-setting performance turned in by Lovely Vacation, who toured the oval in 2:02.3 - the fastest split of the day.
Trainer/driver Mark Steacy rolled the daughter of Majestic Son-Short Vacation through fractions of :30.2, 1:00.Trainer/driver Mark Steacy rolled the daughter of Majestic Son-Short Vacation through fractions of :30.2, 1:00.3 and 1:32 before using a :30.3 final frame to seal the deal. It was 8-1/4 lengths back to runner-up Uncommon Grace, with Quantum Ladydabra taking home third prize.
Shawn Steacy, David McDonald, Joe Loring and Dr. Malcolm Man Son Hing share ownership on the youngster, who was purchased for $15,000 from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale. After making a break in her debut and finishing eighth she has rebounded with back-to-back OSS scores.
When the card started, the track record was 2:04.4 set by Independent Lassie on September 8, 1998. Three fillies lowered that mark over the course of the card.
Winbak Tess kicked off the day with a 2:03.3 triumph in her $24,000 assignment. The daughter of Mutineer-Tybridge turned a pocket trip into a 2-1/4 length triumph over Winbak Music, with Random Choice rounding out the top three finishers.
Bruce Richardson did the driving for trainer Gerald Girling and owner Kathleen Girling of Rodney, ON. The $1,200 purchase from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale improved her rookie record to 1-1-1 from six tries, while her bankroll climbed to $17,055 with the win.
Stormont Fried was a narrowly-beaten runner-up in her debut, but she drew away to win by 2-3/4 lengths in Tuesday’s follow-up performance for trainer Norm Jones. The daughter of Kadabra-Grill Now was treated to a ground-saving trip by driver James MacDonald before rallying to the 2:05.1 tally over Tymal Elvira and Noble Peace Prize.
Stormont Meadows of Long Sault, ON owns and bred the trotting lass, who has stashed away $18,000 in earnings.
Striking Forever broke her maiden thanks to a 2:03.4 triumph for the tandem of driver Scott Coulter and trainer Rob Fellows. Sent off at odds of 12-1, the daughter of Striking Sahbra-Stay At Home rallied to win by a half-length margin over Sturdy As A Hall. Third prize went to Zorgwijk Madonna.
Sylvanus King, Jr. of New Holland, PA and John Wagner of Centerville, MD share ownership on the career winner of $16,080, who was purchased for a mere $3,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
De La Noche, who was purchased for a bargain price of $2,000 from last year’s Fall Extravaganza Mixed Sale, grabbed her second OSS trophy thanks to a front-stepping score in 2:04.3 for driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair. The Amigo Hall-Orphee Normand miss laid down panels of :31, 1:03.1 and 1:35.1 before sprinting home in :29.2 to secure the 1-1/2 length decision over Joys Mutineer, with Tyrone Conchie grabbing the show dough.
Vince Mastrangelo of Brampton, ON holds the ownership papers on the freshman, who now boasts a bankroll of $26,880.
English Cherry kept her undefeated record intact with a come-from-behind score in her $24,000 tilt. The daughter of Striking Sahbra-Chelemark Twiggy, who won her debut in an OSS Grassroots event at Kawartha Downs on July 23, followed up that triumph with a 2:04.2 win in Tuesday’s assignment for trainer/driver Terry Kerr. Carscot Shalamar was next best, with Barbie And Ken taking home the bronze medal.
Doug Millard, who bred the youngster, shares ownership on the promising lass with partners Charles Eden and the M2 Stables Inc of Woodstock, ON.
Dayplanner also boasts a 2-for-2 record thanks to her 2:03 tally for trainer/driver Paul Walker, which was also a short-lived track record. She hammered out splits of :30, 1:01.3 and 1:32.4 before snapping home in :30.1 en route to the 3-1/2 length decision over Northern Senorita. Stirling Abacus tagged along to finish third.
The homebred daughter of Oaklea Julian-Our Day is owned by Brenda Walker of Owen Sound, ON. She has banked $24,000 to date.
Happy Everything notched the first win of her career by going coast-to-coast in her division for the duo of driver Josh Marks and trainer Jeff Gillis. Marks rolled the daughter of Ken Warkentin-Winning Tribute through fractions of :31, 1:03.4 and 1:35 before using a :30.4 closing panel to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Stary Ives in 2:05.4. J N Lisa grabbed third prize.
The $17,000 purchase from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale has banked $13,920 to d