Driver Jason Ryan doubled up in the Prospect Series leg for Ontario-sired three-year-old filly pacers held at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon, June 23.
Bookending a stretch of three straight driving wins during the first half of the card, Ryan took two of the $8,000 series divisions with favoured fillies Sauble Lila ($2.10) and Acefortyfour Lady ($4.40).
The Otis Hall-trained Sauble Lila countered a first-over challenge from Maple Shadow at the third quarter mark as the heavy 1-9 favourite paced away to win the fastest division by more than eight lengths in 1:59.4 over the 'good' track. She Comes And Goes got up for second over Maple Shadow.
Sauble Lila, who swept the City Of London Series in the spring and was a runner-up in the Prospect Series leg at Georgian Downs on June 11, now has nine wins from 15 starts and more than $50,000 in her debut season. The State Treasurer-Performing Act filly is a homebred campaigned by Sauble Hill Farms and Nasussito Racing Inc.
Acefortyfour Lady prevailed off a pocket trip by half a length over pacesetter Ireland Seelster in 2:00.1 for trainer Kenneth Fritsch, who co-owns the winning Dali-Lady Santana filly with Clayton Fritsch, James Wilson and Rick Carrier.
Ryan just missed a sweep of the Prospect Series leg in a photo finish. The other division was won by Intense Lady ($12.30), who traded turns on the lead with the Ryan-driven Stilton Gold early and nosed out the favourite at the end of a 2:01 mile with Bruce Richardson catch-driving for trainer Rene Dion. The Bettors Delight-Izzy Hanover filly is owned by Gestions Jf Goyette Inc.
Clinton Raceway's trackside fundraiser of the week benefitted the Mitchell Optimist Club. While the cooler temperatures, wind and rain made for a quieter than normal crowd, the club was able to raise just over $3,600 through the afternoon's initiatives and generous race sponsors.
Over the first five weeks of racing in Clinton, the Day at the Races trackside fundraising program has helped to raise more than $22,000 for local groups and organizations.
Live harness racing continues with the biennial Legends Day event on Sunday, June 30 where Hall of Fame harness drivers will descend on small town Ontario for an afternoon of horses, heroes and history.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada and Clinton Raceway)