Mcbubbles captured the $50,000 Kin Pace and broke the stakes and track record at Clinton Raceway on Sunday, July 5, lowering the standard for a three-year-old pacing filly set by two former champions of the half-mile oval's signature race.
She blasted out of post five to beat seven-hole starter Malicia Speed (Tyler Borth) to the first turn, then allowed that rival to put up the quarter of :26.4 before pulling back to the top. Jody Jamieson procured a second-quarter breather for Mcbubbles, reaching the half in :56.3 while fellow elimination winner Could Be Queen (Jason Ryan) came at her first-over. Mcbubbles took off to three-quarters in 1:24.3, putting away the challenger, and widened her advantage on the final turn before rolling down the lane to win by a length in 1:54.1. Amazing Addy (Austin Sorrie) slid out of third turning for home and out-kicked Malicia Speed for second.
The mile by Mcbubbles took two fifths of a second off the Clinton divisional record. The previous mark of 1:54.3 was set by Write Me A Song and Velvet Stinger in the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Kin Pace, respectively. The winning filly also now takes the title of the fastest female pacer in the track’s history.
Mcbubbles has won three straight starts since beginning the season winless in five, with previous victories in a conditioned event for Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots starters at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 19 and her Kin Pace elimination on June 28. The John Pentland-trained daughter of Mcwicked-Lady Bubbles showed her speed in the former effort, winning in 1:51.4. She is now four-for-15 lifetime with $67,030 in earnings for Hutt Racing Stable of Malvern, Pa. She returned $4.60 to win.
The Kin Pace is for Ontario-sired three-year-old filly pacers that are non-winners of $50,000 in their two-year-old season. It honours the Clinton Kinsmen, whose vision more than 55 years ago helped establish seasonal harness racing at the small-town Ontario oval. Each year, the race celebrates both the sport's rich traditions and the community volunteers whose dedication helped build one of Ontario's most beloved racing destinations.
The headline event produced the second track record on the day, following Mass Deployment's shattering of the all-age trotting mark with a 1:56.3 effort in the lone $30,000 OSS Grassroots third-leg race for sophomore male trotters. Trouble With Names (Bob McClure) and Wolverine Legend (Todd Ratchford) set the table for a speedy mile as they battled through :28.2 and :56.3 opening splits, with the former on the engine and the latter pressing first-over. Mass Deployment, who had earlier closed the hole and parked Wolverine Legend, had a pocket seat behind the battle and pounced as the hung-out horse tired past three-quarters in 1:26.4. The :30.1 third panel did little to mitigate the damage to Trouble With Names, who was unable to resist Mass Deployment as Tyler Borth sent that colt storming down the stretch to a 2-1/4-length triumph. Green Nineteen (Austin Sorrie) followed the winner out on the final turn and went past Trouble With Names in the lane for second.
Mass Deployment knocked four-fifths of a second off the all-age trot mark at Clinton, which was previously held by Deadline Hall from that gelding’s Grassroots win in 2023. He also lowered Zorgwijk Tim’s 1:58.1 divisional record for a sophomore trotting colt set in 2019.
Rene Dion trains Mass Deployment for S&R Racing Stable Inc. of Acton, Ont., SMS Ventures Inc. of Montreal, Que., Borth of Ingersoll, Ont. and Gestions JF Goyette Inc. of Sainte-Therese, Que. The son of Muscle Mass-Scorched Romance is two-for-six this year after recording his first OSS win, which took his career tallies to three wins and $67,020 in earnings in 11 appearances. He paid $5.30 to win.
Between the two record performances, Evan Stephenson scored his first career driving victory as he gave Getting Euchred ($5) a pacesetting steer in the fifth race. The rookie reinsman was intent on taking command with the six-year-old mare, sending her past rail starter Whereicomefrom (Paul MacKenzie) in a :27.2 first quarter. The latter pondered a re-take past the opening station, sliding out briefly on the backstretch, but he slid back in line and followed through the half in :56.4. First-over Thatmomentinlife (Lorne House) stalled on the way to three-quarters in 1:26.2, and Getting Euchred accelerated rounding the homeward turn to march clear by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Sweet Cheesus (Jody Jamison) closed for second over Whereicomefrom. Brent Belore trains the winning daughter of All Bets Off-Sarahs Creek for Ronald Thompson of Embro, Ont. The mare, now four-for-19 this year, took her 31st lifetime win in 132 starts, raising her bankroll to $203,150.
Stephenson’s first win came in his 15th drive, and his second start behind Getting Euchred. He made his pari-mutuel debut in May with a fifth-place finish at Flamboro and has cashed cheques in nine of his drives to date. The 22-year-old resident of Ancaster, Ont. recorded his first training win in 2024 and has since won two more races in that sphere. He is 15-1-1-1 in the sulky with three more drives lined up at Grand River Raceway on Monday.
Stonebridge Mac ($3.60) won the sole $10,000 Prospect Series Leg 3A division for three-year-old male trotters, getting every call in a 2:00.3 victory for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Scott McEneny.
The Clinton Mustangs hosted a successful Day at the Races fundraiser, raising more than $6,000 through a variety of activities held throughout the afternoon in support of their organization.
The 2026 live harness racing season at Clinton continues on Sunday, July 12 with the ever-popular kids day, featuring The Young Gunz mini race, Ontario Racing Kids Experience and more.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Clinton Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada with files from Clinton Raceway)