Racing fans had plenty of reasons to flock to Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon, as the half-mile oval played host to a quartet of Central Huron Stakes finals
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Here’s a recap of what took place in each of the finals:
$21,400 CENTRAL HURON STAKES FINAL – FILLIES & MARES TROT
Sent off as the 3-2 favourite, Paco Brandy held on to win by a head after doing all of the roadwork for driver Gord Rayner. The Wayne Langille-trained daughter of Yankee Paco sliced out splits of :30.2, 1:01.4 and 1:32.3 before stepping home in :30.3 en route to the narrow victory. Paco Patti completed the Exactor ticket and Beginish was third.
It was a career-best clocking for the filly, who was purchased by Langille for $4,000 at the Canadian Open Yearling Sale in 2007. After finishing off the board in her lone start as a rookie, Paco Brandy has put together a 2-1-0 record in her first four starts of this year’s sophomore campaign. She has stashed away more than $16,000 in career earnings.
$20,000 CENTRAL HURON STAKES FINAL – COLTS & GELDINGS TROT
The win streak in now up to six-in-a-row for M T L Maple, who romped to a four-length decision in the $20,000 final of the Central Huron Stake for colts and geldings. The homebred son of Malabar Maple was on top at every station for Mike Whelan, who guided M T L Maple to the 2:04 score over H S Blaze and Piracy.
Mike’s father, Walter Whelan, bred, owns and trains the three-year-old colt, who was sent off as the 3-5 favourite in the eight horse affair. Unraced as a two-year-old, M T L Bullet boasts a 6-0-1 record and more than $27,000 in earnings from his first seven lifetime starts.
$24,800 CENTRAL HURON STAKE FINAL – FILLIES & MARES PACE
J Harris took no prisoners with the Rick Deacon-trained Nemesis Seelster, who went gate-to-wire in a time of 1:59.4 over Trickysmasterpiece, who was three lengths behind the winner. Daylon Charmer rounded out the top three.
The four-year-old Western Maverick miss, who was sent off at odds of 8-1, laid down panels of :29, :59 and 1:28.2 before coasting home in :31.2 to post her third win of the season in nine tries.
Deacon shares ownership on the career winner of $20,720 with partners Andrew Rogers and Wilbert Seaton.
$23,200 CENTRAL HURON STAKE FINAL – COLTS & GELDINGS PACE
Trainer Bruce Goit packed a powerful 1-2 punch thanks to the tandem of Greystone Cash and Lyons Trick, who made up the Exactor ticket in the eight-horse affair.
Lyons Trick did most of the roadwork for driver Mike Sumner while Greystone Cash and driver Anthony Haughan got away last before improving their position at every one of the remaining quarter calls. A bold move by Greystone Cash, who was sent off at odds of 5-1, at the three-quarter proved to be winning move as he drove away to win by five lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:58. Race favourite Lyons Trick was second and Call To See finished third.
Pat Ryan of London, ON holds the papers on the three-year-old son of Million Dollar Cam, who won for the fourth time in seven tries this year. The gelding bumped his bankroll to $23,425 with the win.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.