Flirty Dancer waltzes to Grassroots win

Flirty Dancer (Lookslikeachpndale) eased to her third Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots victory of the season in the final regular season leg for two-year-old trotting fillies on Monday (Sep. 11) at Grand River Raceway.

She launched from the three-hole just past the midway point and blasted to the lead. Scott Young kept the gas pedal down, and the filly soared home to win by eight-and-a-half lengths in 1:59. Her Currency (Bob McClure) was second-best over Exciting Mia (Chris Christoforou).

FLIRTY DANCER REPLAY

Flirty Dancer has won three of her four starts in the Grassroots. The Paul Reid-trained filly is four-for-seven overall and has earned $45,756. She will head to the Grassroots semi-final for owners Reid, Brian Kleinburg of Madison, and Richard Beinhauer of Venetia.

West River Ivory (Wheeling N Dealin, Paul MacDonell) broke her maiden the second division, completing a first-up bid and finishing strongly for a two-and-three-quarter-length victory in 1:59.3. Abikadabra (Doug McNair was a clear second. Birthday Money (Matt Bax) hit the wire third but was placed back to sixth, promoting Gaming Queen (Travis Henry) to the show spot.

WEST RIVER IVORY REPLAY

West River Ivory was winless in her six previous attempts but hit the board in six of them. MacDonell has trained her to $39,088 in earnings for Haley Macdonald of Stratford.

The semi-final for the two-year-old trotting fillies is scheduled for Sep. 21 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The $75,000 finals will go forward on Sep. 30. Flirty Dancer raised her points total to 162 with the win, snatching it from former leader Birthday Money, who would have tied for the top spot had she not been disqualified.

Grand River Raceway will continue action on Wednesday, Sep. 13.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink