JULY 9, 2017 – An outstanding afternoon of harness racing wrapped up the Kinsmen and Kinette Club's PlucKinFest at Clinton Raceway on Sunday, starting with four Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots divisions for the three-year-old trotting colts.
Three of the four Grassroots winners lined up behind the outside Post 7, and Many A Man kicked off the parade of right rail winners in the first $18,800 division. Driver Bob McClure eased Many A Man away from the gate and the pair were sitting last as Gotagetmesomathat took the field of eight to a :29.2 opening quarter. Heading for the :59.3 half McClure sent Many A Man up the outside and the colt made steady progress through the 1:30.2 three-quarters before shifting into high gear in the stretch and accelerating home to the 2:01 victory. Masster Blue finished one and one-quarter lengths back in second and Uknow What To Do was two lengths back in third.
"I seen he had some breaking issues so I was really careful, but he was really impressive because not many horses can go last to first in Clinton," said McClure. "He was really tough."
The Elora, ON resident crafted Many A Man's first sophomore victory for trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, ON and his partners C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, ON. The homebred son of Manofmanymissions was a five time Ontario Sires Stakes winner at two, including the Grassroots championship, but had made breaks in three of four starts heading into Sunday's test.
The second Grassroots division saw another winner come from the outside Post 7 as fan favourite Yo Yo Mass stalked Speedycrest through fractions of :30, 1:00 and 1:30.3 before slipping out of the pocket and sailing home a one length winner in 2:00.3. Speedycrest settled for second and Airborne Seelster overcame an early break to finish third.
"I raced against him in the last Gold and thought he was an alright horse. He proved today he is a legit horse," noted Trevor Henry, who crafted the Muscle Mass son's first Grassroots, and second lifetime, win. "You can ask him to do anything and he responds."
Campbellville resident Kyle Reibeling trains Yo Yo Mass for his partner, and the gelding's breeder, Nancy Grimble of Newcastle, ON.
Division point leader Rose Run Speedster delivered the only Grassroots victory that did not start at Post 7, going gate-to-wire from Post 4 in the third division. The Windsong Espoir son and driver Louis-Philippe Roy loafed through fractions of :31.2, 1:03.3 and 1:34 on their way to a five length victory in 2:03.1. Gym Rat overcame a series of breaks to finish second, edging Addycor Royal into third.
Rene Allard of Matamoras, PA trains Rose Run Speedster for his partner the Rose Run Speedster Stable of Guelph, ON. The colt is now flawless in three Grassroots starts and sits atop the division standings with 150 points.
Warrawee Shipshape delivered the third Post 7 victory in impressive fashion, firing off the gate and leading the field through fractions of :29.3, :59 and 1:30.3 before trotting under the wire in 2:00.2. Santini finished one length back in second and Jayport Buddy was two more lengths back in third.
"They do a good job on this track so it helps," said trainer-driver Pat Hudon of Warrawee Shipshape's Post 7 victory. "Some track surfaces are not so good for trotters, but this track is."
The win was the Muscle Mass son's second in Grassroots action this season, but his first under Hudon's tutelage. The Rockwood, ON resident and his partner, numbered company 8113564 Canada Ltd. of Sherwood Park, AB, acquired Warrawee Shipshape from Eddie Green on June 12, but missed the July 1 Grassroots event at Hiawatha Horse Park because the gelding was under the weather.
"He just wasn't 100 per cent and with that long of a trip, there was no sense," said Hudon of the decision to delay Warrawee Shipshape's provincial debut for his new owners. "We figured it was better to scratch and race next week."
One race after Warrawee Shipshape's victory Clinton fans welcomed eight of Ontario's top three-year-old pacing fillies onto the racetrack for the $61,200 Kin Pace Final and fan favourite The Joy Luck Club demonstrated that she was 100 per cent healthy with a gate-to-wire victory from Post 6. The daughter of Camluck and Oh The Joy sprinted away from the gate and cruised through fractions of :29, :58 and 1:27 before sprinting home to a five and one half length win in 1:55.3. Elimination winner Stonebridge Sundae finished second and Roselily completed the top three.
"She's perfect gaited for a half, but she had some sickness issues the last three starts," said driver Doug McNair of Guelph, ON. "Dad did a good job having her healthy for today."
McNair engineered the filly's tenth win of the season for his father, trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph, and his partners R A W Equine Inc. of Burlington and Mark Horner of St. Marys. Horner also bred the filly and had handled training duties on the winner of $95,277 up until last week's Kin Pace Eliminations.
"Mark's done a good job with her," noted Doug McNair. "She raced great."
The McNairs, Horner and R A W Equine received the Kin Pace trophy from former Toronto Blue Jays star Jesse Barfield, who was on hand for photographs and autographs throughout the afternoon.
In addition to the outstanding racing, the large Clinton Raceway crowd – who wagered a total of $36,152 on the program – was treated to a variety of giveaways and special trackside activities, including a draw for a Pineridge Backyard BBQ Bash for 20 people won by Darrell Gorvett from Elora, ON. The Huron Heat Female Hockey Association was the racetrack's fundraising partner on Sunday and the organisation netted over $2,500 from their barbecue, bake sale and 50/50 draw.
Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action returns to Clinton Raceway on Sunday, July 30 when the two-year-old trotting fillies will be driven by some of harness racing's greatest horsemen, including Ailsa Craig native John Campbell, who will make his final appearance in the race bike on Legends Day. Post time for the July 30 program is 1:30 pm.
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