Fillies hope to shine on Canada Day at Dresden Raceway

Dresden Raceway’s annual Canada Day celebrations will once again feature some of the top young horses in the country as the half-mile oval hosts four Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for the three-year-old trotting fillies this Saturday.

Among the favourites to take home a Grassroots trophy is Bob McIntosh trainee Bustingattheseams. The Kadabra daughter triumphed in her Grassroots debut at Mohawk Racetrack on June 13 and was also victorious in her elimination and the final of the City Of London Trotting Series at The Raceway at Western Fair District in May.

Trevor Henry of Arthur will steer Bustingattheseams for Windsor resident McIntosh and his partner Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, ON. The pair will start from Post 4 in the second $18,450 Grassroots division, which will go postward as Race 5 on the 1:30 pm program.

Among the hopefuls facing off against Bustingattheseams is local filly Style Spotlight, who makes her 2017 Ontario Sires Stakes debut from Post 3. St. Mary’s resident Mike Horner will steer the Windsong Espoir daughter for trainer Michael Carther of Dresden and owners Malcolm and Robert MacPhail of Dover Centre, ON.

“Well, it’s costing nothing for gas,” said Carther with a chuckle. “We’re not hoping for a whole lot, just having fun on Canada Day and hoping for the best.”

Style Spotlight has earned a cheque in all eight of her sophomore starts, but has yet to find the winner’s circle in her 11-race career. Carther does not expect the filly to earn her first win against Grassroots competition, but he does hope she delivers a solid effort in front of the hometown crowd.

“She’s, knock on wood, never made a break in her life,” noted Carther. “And with these tight turns, some of the other ones might be bigger, it might pay off.”

The Grassroots winners will receive their hardware from Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton, who will join Dresden Raceway fans for the Canada Day celebrations.

In addition to the four Grassroots events, fans will enjoy the traditional eight-foot long Canada Day cake along with a variety of prizes and giveaways that include Ontario Sires Stakes ball caps and Ontario Racing flip-flops.

The on-track action gets under way at 1:30 pm, with the three-year-old trotting fillies showing off their skills in Races 2, 5, 8 and 9.