Trainer Larry Fitzsimmons enjoyed a perfect training triple with the help of his grandson Nick Steward while trotter Elmo Rockbottom turned in a track record performance to highlight Sunday afternoon's (July 31) harness racing action at Clinton Raceway.
Fitzsimmons sent out three starters during the 10-race program and all three returned home winners. Steward bookended his grandfather's training triple, which began in the fifth race with three-year-old pacing colt Country Baran ($3.20), who won his second Clinton race in a row by two and a half lengths in 1:59.4. Also a repeat winner at Clinton, five-year-old pacer Dali On Up ($5.60) later prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.3 in the eighth race for Fitzsimmons with Ryan Holliday in the sulky, and then the Steward-driven seven-year-old pacer Stoney Durkin ($4.50) held on by a neck to win the finale in 1:57.1.
Fans also witnessed trotter Elmo Rockbottom ($7.50) etch his name in the track record book on Sunday as he toured the Clinton oval in 1:58.4 to win the $3,600 third race. The time of the mile was two-fifths of a second faster than the former divisional track record for aged trotting stallions held by CR Aviator. The nine-year-old Conway Hall-Scully Fbi horse, who carved out fractions of :29.2, :58.4 and 1:28.4 before closing out the record mile with a 30-second panel, was driven by Tyler Moore to the seven and a quarter length victory for owner/trainer Leonard Rosene. Willyorwonthe and favourite Margo Plicatus completed the top three finish order in the race.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.