The Central Huron Stakes finals were contested at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon, with trotters and pacers battling it out in a quartet of events
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Imagination K kicked things off with a 10-1 upset in the $21,600 final for filly and mare trotters. The four-year-old Kadabra miss survived a parked out trip to win in 2:04 for the tandem of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Paul Taylor. She had a half-length to spare over runner-up Madencanadamatters and third-place finisher Sweetineer.
Bred and leased by Bob Key of Leechburg, PA, the mare won for the second time in her career while pushing her lifetime cash stash to $19,922.
Ranchester romped to a 4-1/2 length tally in the $20,400 final for horse and gelding trotters. The three-year-old son of Duke Of York rallied form off-the-pace to take the rich event in 2:01.3 for father/daughter duo of driver Paul Walker and trainer Julie Walker. Tequilaamigo was second and Guardian Seelster took home the show dough.
It was the fourth win in the last five starts for the square gaiter, who has banked $26,150 to date for Paul and Julie Walker of Owen Sound along with Malcolm and Robert MacPhail of Dover Centre, ON.
Richlyn Tessa went coast-to-coast in a career-best clocking of 1:56.1 in the $23,400 final for filly and mare pacers. The sophomore daughter of Camotion threw down fractions of :28.2, :57.1 and 1:26.3 for driver Alfie Carroll, who used a :29.3 final frame to seal the deal with the Rich Griffiths trainee. Northern Athena was 2-1/4 lengths behind the 9-5 favourite, with third prize going to Wind Drifter.
Griffiths bred and co-owns the career winner of $32,260, who has put together a 4-0-2 record in her first six starts after going unraced as a rookie.
Lawmen Reign was treated to a second-over trip in the $21,200 for colt and gelding pacers, and the three-year-old son of Rambaran didn’t let the trip go to waste. In rein to trainer Ross Battin, the gelding drew clear to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:59.3 for Battin, who co-owns the pacer with his wife, Marge. Coventry Seelster was the bridesmaid, and Jumpin Jack J rounded out the top three.
The homebred colt, who was unraced at two, now owns a 4-3-1 record in 10 trips postward. His lifetime earnings climbed to $32,679 with the win.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.