Monte harness racing in Ontario returned to the site where the first North American under saddle wagering race took place, as Clinton Raceway hosted two events for the monte trotters on Sunday afternoon (June 19).
Alex Marion, who is RUS Ontario's sole licensed male rider, earned his first victory as 10-year-old Celebrity Legacy inherited the 2:04 score in the first C$3,000 event. Precious Phoebe reset after an early miscue and trotted to a six-length lead while Celebrity Legacy swept from last to second. Precious Phoebe and Evelyn Harms crossed the wire first with Celebrity Legacy chasing three-quarters of a length behind, however, judges ruled Precious Phoebe failed to lose ground while on a break and she was placed sixth. Celebrity Legacy, a son of Windsong’s Legacy, is owned by trainer Felix Marion and Krystel Simard. The victory was his first under saddle, after 22 wins to sulky.
Harms won later aboard trotting mare Southwind Alice in the other C$4,000 monte race. Southwind Alice overtook Massive Muscles and Marit Valstad to win by a length in 2:03.4. The five-year-old Muscle Hill mare, an 11-time career winner, has now won successive RUS events for trainer David Dowling and owner Allan Neal.
Handle on the two RUS events totaled C$3,267, compared to the total program handle of C$18,294, or an average/race of C$1,829 on the ten race card/
Monteamerica.com
Thomas H. Hicks