CLINTON, ON — Clinton Raceway’s September showcase of the Ontario Sires Stakes program wrapped up on Sunday afternoon with an outstanding speed show by the three-year-old pacing fillies.
Four of the eight divisions equalled or bettered the former 1:58.1 track record for sophomore pacing fillies, and Feathery Fame simply obliterated the standard with a 1:56 scorcher in the first race. The Apaches Fame daughter and driver Stuart Sowerby took command of the race from the start and sailed through fractions of :28.2, :56.4 and 1:26.3 en route to the 14 length triumph over favourite Lucky Irma and Doctor Ruth.
Gregg McNair trains Feathery Fame for his mother Gwendolyn McNair of Walkerton, who also bred the winner of $109,296. After dabbling in the Gold Series through the middle part of the season, the filly has posted a pair of impressive Grassroots wins in the last two events and boosted her point total to 125 with Sunday’s victory.
Local filly Im Half Nukes and Jody Jamieson eked out a neck victory in the tenth race to rocket up the standings into contention for a berth in the Oct. 26 Grassroots Semifinal at Flamboro Downs.
Leaving from Post 6 the Apaches Fame daughter sat in the middle of the pack through much of the mile, making a move to the outside heading to the three-quarter pole. Pacesetter Rhiannon O Rhye fought gamely but was unable to hold off Im Half Nukes in the final steps. Poker Mom picked up the third-place finisher’s share of the $18,000 purse.
Trainer Bud Sinclair of Sebringville and Dr. Norman Amos of St. Marys share ownership on Im Half Nukes, who improved her record to six wins, three seconds and three thirds in 20 starts.
Jamieson also engineered an impressive come-from-behind victory for fan favourite Shami Cami in the eighth race. Starting from the outside Post 7, Jamieson eased the Run The Table daughter off the gate and waited until the halfway marker to start grinding up the outside. A bold three-wide move at the three-quarters landed the duo in front and they cruised home to a two and a half length win in 1:59.2. Pacesetter Firstline Vision held on for second while Shes So Lucky earned the third-place cheque.
Scott McNiven trains Shami Cami for Kimberley McNiven of Putnam and Twin B Stables Ltd. and Bradley McNiven of Embro. The win was the filly’s second in Grassroots action this season, and added to one second and one third-place finish, give her a total of 137 points in the race for a Semifinal berth.
The talented Espirit Seelster maintained her position atop the division standings with a 1:58.1 victory in the fourth race. In rein to regular driver Mike Sumner the Camluck daughter led through all stations and hit the wire one and a quarter lengths ahead of last year’s Grassroots champion Wendys Rocket and Apaches Angel.
McCarthy Family Farms Ltd. of Granton owns Espirit Seelster and Ray Bunn handles training duties on the winner of $64,886.
The other divisions went to Twin B Goddess in 1:57.2, Twin B Scamper in 1:59.4, Billie O Neil in 1:58.3 and Missys Fame in 1:58.
The three-year-old pacing fillies wrap up their regular Grassroots season at Georgian Downs on Oct. 18, with the top 16 point earners heading to Flamboro Downs one week later for Semifinal action. The top eight finishers from the Semifinal will then advance to the Nov. 2 Grassroots Championship.
The Ontario Sires Stakes program will return to Clinton Raceway next season with a fresh crop of pacers and trotters eager to take a crack at the popular oval’s speed records.