Clinton Raceway kicked off its 2011 live season on Sunday, and fans were treated to wall-to-wall series action
. Four divisions of the Spring Cleaning Series for trotters and five splits for the pacers went postward, with each tilt carrying a purse of $3,000.
Reckless out-trotted her foes in the opening division for the tandem of driver Jim McClure and trainer Ron Wedow. The five-year-old Malabar Maple turned a ground-saving trip into a 2:05.2 tally over Kirkfield Wind and Paidlast. The mare is owned by Wedow and his wife, Lynn.
Intrigued Again Stable’s My Way John recovered from an early miscue to take the second division in a time of 2:05.3 for trainer/driver Tony Kerwood. The six-year-old son of Angus Hall rallied first over to win by a head over Louise Albert, with Early Gait taking home third prize.
The ageless Razzle Royale eked out a narrow score in his assignment when he held on for a neck decision for trainer/driver Kelly Sheppard. The 12-year-old son of Royal Strength, who stopped the clock in 2:03.4, fended off a late charge from Berto Bravo to win for the second week-in-a-row. CR Daddy O grabbed the show dough. Sea Of Green Inc of Dundas, ON holds the papers on the 39-time winner.
The final division for the trotters went to Awesome Kyle, who turned a two-hole trip into a quarter-length triumph over Abigail Eden in 2:05. Stormont Platinum was third. Trevor Henry mapped out the winning trip for the 11-year-old son of Balanced Image, who is now a 26-time winner for owner/trainer Rene Allard of Saint-Esprit, QC.
Bio Babacar went to the front and didn’t look back en route to a 2-1/4 lengths triumph in 2:01 over Vijay Bert in the first division for the pacers. C Lulu Epatiguy took home third prize. Nick Steward engineered the winning trip with the Ernie Hendry trainee. Jeff Williams of Windsor, ON owns the seven-year-old son of Village Jiffy.
Wyatts Delight powered to the top and kept on trucking en route to a 1:59.3 score in the second division. The six-year-old son of Bettors Delight won 4-1/4 lengths over Putnampacinmachin, with Starbaby Romeo third. Garrett Rooney teamed up with trainer Rob Lindenfield, who shares ownership on the gelding with Ron Lindenfield of Lucan, ON.
Stuart Sowerby circled the field with Greystone The Grad, who got up in the final strides to win by three-quarters of a length over Blackriver Wildcat in 2:01.3. Toastin Albert was third. The Paul Robert-trained five-year-old son of Full Scholarship, who is owned by Robert Watson of London and Mike Bartram of Ingersoll, ON, won for the fifth time this season.
Eagle McNair rallied from a pocket trip and scored by three-quarters of length over Dolce And Gapanna in a time of 1:59.2. Taserd rounded out the top three finishers. Tony Kerwood worked out the winning trip with the Pierre Ouellette, Jr. pupil. The six-year-old son of Camluck is owned by Ouellette and partner Melanie Fontaine of St-Liguori, QC.
The final division went to Western Rival, who laid down all the speed for driver Brad Fritz en route to the 2:01.4 triumph over Keystone Debonair, whose late rally fell short by three-quarters of a length. Most Wanted Benka came on late to finish third. Dwayne McFadden trains the eight-year-old son of Western Hanover for David Deighton of Dresden, ON.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Clinton Raceway.