Third straight Gold for Adare Castle

Adare Castle (Muscle Mass) reaffirmed her superiority among Ontario-sired three-year-old trotting fillies with a third straight Ontario Sires Stakes Gold harness racing victory in the $156,300 fourth leg at Grand River Raceway on Monday (Aug. 15).

Off at 1/2, she marched for the front but slid behind the two-wide Baby Longstocking (Doug McNair) entering the first turn. After briefly dropping into third, James MacDonald reactivated Adare Castle and sent her to the top as the field completed the first quarter in :27.3.

Adare Castle travelled to the half in :57.1 and faced the first-up Baby Longstocking going to three-quarters in 1:27. The leader put away that challenger on the final turn and sailed to victory in 1:55.4 with little work required from MacDonald in the stretch.

Saundra (Sylvain Filion) closed the gap to three-quarters of a length at the pylons, finishing second. Mischievous Rose (Bob McClure) took third.

ADARE CASTLE REPLAY

Adare Castle, last year’s Ontario Sires Stakes two-year-old filly trotting champion, is now 12-for-15 lifetime and has earned $848,074. She captured the SBOA Stakes earlier this season and has won five of six in 2020. Mark Etsell, a resident of Rockwood, trains the filly and co-owns her with Robert Newton of Walkerton, Graham Hopkins of Chesley, and Peter Porter of Port Dover.

Also on the card, Ladies From Hell (Classic Card Shark) went wire-to-wire the Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap. Scott Coulter rated the eight-year-old mare to her 32nd lifetime win. Trainer Michael Sumner shares ownership with Shae Sumner; both reside in London. The mare has earned $213,162 in 147 career starts.

Grand River Raceway hosts more Ontario Sires Stakes Gold action with two-year-old pacing fillies contesting their third leg on Wednesday, Aug. 16. The 11-race card will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete Ontario Sires Stakes standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink