Fans turning out for Sunday’s Fathers’ Day matinee at Clinton Raceway were treated to a terrific 10-race card which featured seven OSS Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Maracasso went down the road in his $18,000 tilt en route to stopping the teletimer in 1:54.4 for driver Phil Hudon. He rolled the son of Lis Mara-Miss Picasso through fractions of :28.2, :55.1 and 1:24.2 before cruising home in :30.2 to win by 2-3/4 lengths over Bob Ben And John. Race favourite The Fire Within was third.
Trainer John Williamson co-owns the gelding with Daniel Haist of Ridgeville, Ontario. It was the second win of the season for the pacer who now boasts lifetime earnings of $27,910. He paid $34.90.
Mac Raider took the same approach to capturing the second division for Team McNair. Driver Doug McNair hustled the son of Mach Three-Kaylas Grace to the lead and after slicing out splits of :29, :59.1 and 1:28.1 the gelding used a :28.3 kicker to win by 4-3/4 lengths over Draft Seelster in 1:56.4. Third prize went to Mister Big Top.
Len Gamble, Don MacDonald, David Kryway and trainer Gregg McNair share ownership on the gelding who improved this year’s record to 2-1-2 from seven starts with the win. The $9,000 payday bumped his bankroll to $31,630. He paid $4.00.
Win One Soon turned a ground-saving trip into a 1:57 triumph in the third division. Sylvain Filion grabbed the two-hole for the gelding, and together they stalked pacesetter Camvicted through fractions of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:28.1. Win One Soon angled out late and fired home in :28.2 to post the win by 1-1/4 lengths over Camvicted. Myhoneytellsall, who did the first-over work, was third.
Ron Ash owns the son of Jeremes Jet-Allamerican Tiger, who won for the second time in six starts this season. The gelding, who lifted his overall cash stash to $71,500 with the win, paid $8.30.
Make Some Luck survived a first-over journey to win the fourth division for Team Jamieson. The son of Camluck-Mustang Kensley got away third for driver Jody Jamieson, before going first-over against Alexas Prayer. That pacer carved out fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:27.1 before being overtaken in the lane by Make Some Luck. His :28.4 closing quarter propelled him to the 1:56.1 decision by 1-1/4 lengths over Pace Seelster. Alexas Prayer held on to grab the show dough.
Southwind Indy took no prisoners en route to winning his $18,000 assignment in 1:56.3 for driver Chris Christoforou. The son of Sportswriter-Its Only Rocknroll led the field through panels of :28.1, :58.3 and 1:27.4 before scooting home in :28.4 to defeat Regal Sight by two lengths. Third prize went to Mach Code.
Casie Coleman trains the gelding for West Wins Stable, Steve Calhoun and Southwind Farms LLC. The victory was the first of the season in four attempts for the three-time winner.
Jeb was an upset winner in the sixth division, and he did so in gate-to-wire fashion for driver Phil Hudon. The colt fired through intervals of :28.1, :58 and 1:27.1 before storming home in a :29-second clip to win in 1:56.1. It was a half length back to runner-up Desoronto, with Charlottes Colony rounding out the top three finishers.
It was the first win of the year in six tries for the James ‘Friday’ Dean trainee. Wilma and James MacKenzie of Ennismore, Ontario own the career winner of $47,640. He kicked back $37.50 to his backers.
Western Bayama turned a second-over trip into a 1:57.2 in the final division. The son of Lis Mara-Lost Art watched Littlebitaswagger throw down fractions of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:28.2 while feeling first-over pressure in the middle stages of the mile from Halton Hurricane. Western Bayama swung off cover in the lane and his :28.2 closing quarter helped earn him the win by three-quarters of a length over Sports Lightning. Halton Hurricane had to settle for third prize.
Stephane Larocque trains the homebred colt for Bayama Farms Inc of Saint-Andre d’Argenteuil, Quebec. I was the first win of the season and the third to date for the career winner of $49,509. He paid $5.80.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Clinton Raceway.