Cracklin Rosie captured the fastest of three $8,000 Kin Pace eliminations at Clinton Raceway on Sunday afternoon (June 26), impressing both fans and driver Doug McNair.
“She couldn’t have raced any better. She was pacing harder at the wire than anywhere in the race,” said McNair following the three-year-old pacing filly’s commanding 1:55.2 victory. “She’s definitely the horse to beat [in the final].”
Starting from Post 4, McNair sent Cracklin Rosie straight to the front and the filly led the field of eight through fractions of :29.1, :59.1 and 1:27.2 on her way to a six and one-quarter length victory over favourite Bad As Leader and Rosy Outlook. Her 1:55.2 clocking was just two-fifths of a second off the track record for sophomore pacing fillies, a record McNair said could be in jeopardy in the July 3 final.
“She honestly felt like she could have gone in 1:54 flat today,” said the Guelph, Ont. resident, who was making his second appearance in the filly’s race bike.
Ciaran Morrison of Harley, Ont. trains Cracklin Rosie for Aaron Waxman of Carlisle, Alan Alber of Thornhill, Frank Cirillo of Kleinburg and Terri Lynn McNair of Guelph, Ont. The Badlands Hanover daughter will make her bid for top spot in the Kin Pace final from Post 3.
The second elimination featured a fierce stretch battle that saw Killean Finale prevail by three-quarters of a length over Alphabet Queen and favourite Party In Rome. Guelph resident Jason Ryan engineered the 1:58 score for trainer Nick Gallucci of Brantford, Ont. and owner Paul Tolmazoff of Bedford, N.S. The Sportswriter daughter will start from the trailing Post 8 in the $63,400 final.
Icthelight Hanover posted her first win of the season in the third division, battling all the way around the final turn before pulling away to a one-length victory in 1:59.4. My Rhythm Of Rhyme and favourite You Mach Me Crazy rounded out the top three. James MacDonald of Guelph crafted the win for trainer Luc Blais of Lochaber Ouest, Que. and Determination of Montreal, Que., and will steer the Big Jim daughter from Post 6 in the dinal.
The top two finishers from each division, along with third-place finishers Rosy Outlook and You Mach Me Crazy, will line up as follows in the $63,400 Kin Pace final at Clinton Raceway on July 3:
1. Rosy Outlook
2. You Mach Me Crazy
3. Cracklin Rosie
4. Alphabet Queen
5. My Rhythm Of Rhyme
6. Icthelight Hanover
7. Bad As Leader
8. Killean Finale
AE. Party In Rome
In addition to three outstanding Kin Pace eliminations, Clinton Raceway fans also witnessed a moment of history on Sunday as driver Trevor Henry earned his 6,000th career victory in the last race of the afternoon program. The Arthur, Ont. resident recorded win number 5,999 in the sixth race and then reached the milestone in race 10 with pacing mare Andro Madi. The outcome was never in doubt as the pair led from start to finish on their way to a 1:58.1 score.
Henry recorded his first career win at Elmira Raceway in 1989 behind New Norm. When asked about his chances to hit the 6,000 mark going into Sunday's card, Henry simply stated, "It would be great to reach the milestone in Clinton and move on to 7,000!"
In addition to Andro Madi’s trainer Andrew McCabe of Guelph-Eramosa and owner Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein, Ont., Henry was joined by family and friends in the winner’s circle celebrations.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(With files from Clinton Raceway)