The field is set for Clinton Raceway's signature race, the $50,000 Kin Pace for Ontario-sired three-year-old fillies, following a pair of eliminations on Sunday, June 29.
The first $8,000 elimination went to Stone Sawyer from post five. She sat a gapped-off fourth in the five-horse field, reduced to four contenders after an early break, to the quarter in :28.3. Austin Sorrie pulled her off the cones at the half in :59.4, and the filly trekked first-up through the third panel to pull level with leader Highland Delight (Jody Jamieson) at three-quarters in 1:29. Those two battled around the final turn, but Stone Sawyer proved best as she edged away under a hold to win by a head in 1:58. Highland Delight finished second with Dear Abbey (Tyler Borth) third and Solitary Dancer (Travis Henry) fourth.
Stone Sawyer, a daughter of Mcwicked-Marquise De Sarah, has won two straight races after starting her career 0-for-12. Tony Beaton trains the filly, with two wins in seven starts this year, for Robert Bridges of Campbellville, Ont.
Sugar Pie Honey took her fourth straight win to stay perfect at three in the second $8,000 elimination. The Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots-winning filly took the pocket as Kandy Kiss (Borth) fired out to a loose lead before coming back to the field as they reached the quarter in :29. They went single-file to the half in :58.3, and Jason Ryan sent Sugar Pie Honey on the march as they turned for the backstretch. The filly was in front before three-quarters in 1:27.3 and she powered clear down the stretch, racing to a two-length win in 1:57.2. Wicked Cruizer (J.R. Plante) finished second over Tricky Wicky (Jamieson), followed by Kandy Kiss in fourth.
Sugar Pie Honey, a two-time Grassroots winner this year, is unbeaten in four starts in 2025 for conditioner Nick Gallucci and Millar Farms of Stouffville, Ont. The Bettors Delight-Kloof Street filly has won six of 13 career starts.
The final of the Kin Pace will be contested next Sunday, July 6 at Clinton. Elimination winners drew for posts one through five.
$50,000 Kin Pace
Post - Horse - Elimination Driver - Trainer
1. Wicked Cruizer - J.R. Plante - Gabriella Sasso
2. Stone Sawyer - Austin Sorrie - Anthony Beaton
3. Highland Delight - Jody Jamieson - Ben Hollingsworth
4. Kandy Kiss - Tyler Borth - Blake MacIntosh
5. Sugar Pie Honey - Jason Ryan - Nick Gallucci
6. Tricky Wicky - Jody Jamieson - Rene Dion
7. Solitary Dancer - Travis Henry - Brittany Kennedy
8. Dear Abbey - Tyler Borth - Blake MacIntosh
AE1. Oneformybaby - Jason Ryan - Nick Gallucci
AE2. Brydown Wait N See - Lorne House - Kendall Durst
The Mitchell Optimist Club held the on-track fundraiser on Sunday afternoon, raising just shy of $3,700 to club initiatives.
A handle of $67,367 was recorded over the 11-race card.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada & Clinton Raceway; photo of Sugar Pie Honey winning the second Kin Pace elimination)