Three-year-old pacing fillies headlined the action at Clinton Raceway on Sunday (July 2) afternoon, with a pair of Kin Pace eliminations sharing top billing on the ten-race card.

In the first Kin Pace elimination (race five), Stonebridge Sundae took full advantage of a pocket ride and pounced in upper stretch en route to a 1:55 score, the second triumph of her career. The three-year-old daughter of Camluck landed in the pocket behind pacesetter Roselily (Travis Cullen) after leaving from the far outside, tracking early fractions of :28.1 and :57 comfortably before being boxed with three-eighths to go. Up the backstretch, 4-5 favourite The Joy Luck Club (Doug McNair) engaged Roselily from first-over after advancing out of fifth, and the two dueled to three-quarters in 1:26. As the battle intensified turning for home, Mike Saftic was able to point Stonebridge Sundae to a seam at the pegs, and the pair drew off through the final sixteenth to prevail by two lengths.

The Joy Luck Club, who led briefly in mid-stretch, saved second narrowly over the game Roselily, while Treasures Pearl (Bob McClure) earned the fourth and final ticket to next week’s final via an even stalking trip.

Stonebridge Sundae, trained by Marcel Barrieau for owners Claude Baril, Gilles Caouette, and Michel Daneault, returned $13.20 to win. Her 1:55 performance also gives her a share of the track record for three-year-old pacing fillies, previously held by Her Own Land.

Stellenbosch employed similar tactics in the second Kin Pace elimination (race 10), drafting behind dueling leaders from the pocket before threading the needle up the inside and just reaching for a 1:56.3 triumph. Travis Cullen protected the second spot with the Mach Three filly behind early pacesetter Loves Angel (McNair) through a soft :30 first quarter, and the pair remained in the pocket as Manhattan Play (Saftic) emerged from fourth with five-eighths to go and forced middle fractions of :59 and 1:27.1.

Despite Loves Angel’s best efforts to hold her ground under pressure, Stellenbosch found room up the inside with just over a sixteenth to go, and was urged to reach by three-quarters of a length. Loves Angel and Manhattan Play held second and third respectively following their extended pace duel, while Odysseus (Scott Young) rounded out the top four after stalking the pace closely from a second-row dispatch.

Stellenbosch, a Millar Farms homebred trained by Eric Adams, earned her fifth career win and her third of the season. She returned $14.40 to win.

Tomitta Bayama sprung a 7-1 upset in the sub-featured $5,000 Preferred 3 Pace, returning $17.70 to his backers after sprinting clear from post seven and controlling the terms through a 1:58.2 mile. The eight-year-old Camluck gelding outlasted a late charge from 4-5 favourite Mac Raider, who hooked three-wide from the pocket and charged belatedly.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway