Odds-on favourites So Much More ($2.40) and Freya Seelster ($2.20) lived up to the hype in their respective Kin Pace eliminations on Sunday afternoon (June 30) at Clinton Raceway, posting powerful performances to lead the way into next week's final.
The first elimination saw So much More overcome stalled cover with a sweeping three-wide push into the final turn to prevail in 1:55.3 and extend her seasonal winning streak to seven. After settling the daughter of Big Jim fourth early behind early pacesetter Significance's (Doug McNair) splits of :28 and :57.2, Trevor Henry angled So More second-over behind Family First (Jason Ryan) up the backstretch. Encountered with stalled flow, So Much More circled three-wide past three-quarters in 1:26.4 and advanced to engage Significance on the final turn.
Turning for home, So Much More worked to within striking range, and reeled in Significance to win by a half length. Charmbo Brie (Mike Saftic) stayed on for third from the pocket, while Dreamfair Zenfire (Drew Neill) finished fourth.
Trainer Don Beatson co-owns So Much More with Kenneth Beatson and Cole England.
In the second elimination, Freya Seelster posted her second win of her three-year-old season with a 1:56.2 pillar-to-post score. James MacDonald protected pole position with the daughter of Sunshine Beach, and the pair coasted through splits of :29.2, :58.4 and 1:27.3 with nary a challenger before opening up to beat pocket rival Mostly Deli (Henry) by three lengths. Twin B Friendly (Saftic) and Saulsbrook Jessie (Brett MacDonald) completed the top four.
Shawn Steacy trains Freya Seelster and shares ownership with Katherine Steacy, the Bertrand Gilhespy Stable and Guy Haskell.
The Kin Pace is restricted to three-year-old Ontario-sired fillies, and the $64,900 final headlines next Sunday's (July 7) program.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Clinton Raceway.