Lady Cafe Au Lait (Big Jim) claimed her second career harness racing victory with a commanding performance in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots fifth leg, second division for two-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday, Sep. 17, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Initially sitting fourth at the quarter in :27, driver Tyler Borth moved her to the front down the backstretch, taking the lead before the half in :56.2. Lady Cafe Au Lait then extended her lead to two-and-a-quarter lengths at three-quarters in 1:25.2, and further powered away in the stretch to secure a four-and-a-half-length win in 1:53.2. Stellrmanipulation (Bob McClure) rallied from last to finish second, while Side Effects (Louis-Philippe Roy) took third.
This marked Lady Cafe Au Lait’s first Grassroots victory, adding to her previous earnings from two Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events. She has now banked $43,244 and holds a lifetime record of two wins in 10 starts for trainer Victor Puddy, who co-owns with 10452217 Canada Inc. and Lloyd Stone.
In the first division, Wicked Cruizer (McWicked), driven by Jody Jamieson, secured her second Grassroots win. Trained by Gabriella Sasso, the filly made a second-over move on the final turn and overtook Windsun Charlotte (Roy) in the stretch to win by half a length in 1:53.4. Windsun Charlotte finished a strong second, with Dee (Sylvain Filion) in third.
Wicked Cruizer now has two wins in 10 career starts and has earned $35,186 for owners Jeff Courchesne, Martwest Racing, and Tony Aarts.
The Grassroots Finals will be held on Sep. 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with racing continuing on Thursday, Sep. 19 at 7:10 p.m. EDT.